Puerto Rico ousts D.R., but mood subdued after Díaz injury (2024)

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March 16th, 2023

Puerto Rico ousts D.R., but mood subdued after Díaz injury (32)

Juan Toribio

@juanctoribio

MIAMI -- The spectacle began 90 minutes before first pitch. As the gates opened, a sea of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans filled loanDepot park.

“Dominicana! Dominicana!” chanted the loud Dominican crowd, banging on drums and playing güira, a popular percussion instrument that originates from the island.

“Puerto Rico! Puerto Rico!” screams came from another bunch. They, too, banged on drums and jumped up and down as they used a megaphone so their chants could pack an extra punch.

Wednesday’s game between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico lived up to its enormous hype. The level of play on the field was unrivaled. It seems impossible to find another baseball game that had more passion and louder decibel levels coming from the 36,025 fans in the stands.

Box score

In the end, it was Puerto Rico that earned a bid into the quarterfinals of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, outdueling the Dominican Republic, 5-2, and setting up a date with Pool C winner Mexico on Friday at 7 p.m. on FS1. The loud party in the stands, however, quickly turned into silence and fear as Edwin Díaz was taken off the field in a wheelchair after suffering a right knee injury during the postgame celebration. The 28-year-old Mets closer will undergo further testing on Thursday.

Edwin Díaz injured his right knee after tonight’s WBC game. He will undergo imaging tomorrow and we will update when appropriate.

— New York Mets (@Mets) March 16, 2023

“Quiet,” Puerto Rico center fielder Kiké Hernández described the postgame clubhouse. “As excited as we were about the game and all, it’s one of our brothers and some of us grew together and all that. … It definitely doesn’t feel like we just beat the Dominican Republic to advance.”

The postgame scene was as unfortunate as it gets following Díaz’s injury. Francisco Lindor was visibly upset on the field. As was Díaz’s brother, Alexis. There was a sense of disbelief from the Dominican dugout as Robinson Canó and others watched from afar with their hands over their heads.

Díaz’s injury was a very unfortunate way to end what was otherwise some of the best baseball ever played, especially for a game in the middle of March, a time when players are still ramping up for the regular season during Spring Training.

“There was a lot of energy,” Hernández said. “On paper maybe they had a better team than ours, but we played better. We made it. We advanced and we were able to beat the Dominican Republic.”

Watch the World Baseball Classic live on FOX, FS1, FS2, FOX Deportes

Johnny Cueto got the start for the Dominican Republic and he got the crowd on its feet early. He shimmied and threw strikes, as he does, and needed just nine pitches to get through the first inning. In the third, however, the Puerto Rico lineup punched back.

Christian Vázquez launched a homer off Cueto to lead off the third to give Puerto Rico a 1-0 lead. Lindor and Hernández each followed with RBI singles. MJ Melendez then put the finishing touches on the four-run frame with an RBI groundout to drive in Lindor.

In the bottom half, Juan Soto answered for the Dominican Republic, sending its fans into a frenzy. He launched a solo homer that hit the base of the batter’s eye in center field. The blast traveled 448 feet and had an exit velocity of 110.2 mph.

Puerto Rico, as it did all night, responded. What was supposed to be a routine one-out single to center field turned into a memorable trip around the bases for Lindor. Julio Rodríguez, who later made a spectacular play in center, let the ball get past him, allowing it to roll all the way to the wall. Lindor sprinted around the bases and scored without a throw. He launched his helmet.

“El Apagon,” a song from world-famous artist Bad Bunny, who is from Puerto Rico, blasted through the speakers at loanDepot park. Simultaneously, the Puerto Rican fans in attendance sang along as their team celebrated the Little League homer like kids near home plate.

The Dominican Republic’s best chance at a comeback came in the bottom half of the fifth. Francisco Mejía and Soto drew walks to lead off the inning. Rodríguez followed with a single to load the bases with nobody out. The Dominican Republic had exactly who they wanted at the plate in Manny Machado and Rafael Devers. Machado grounded into a double play. Devers, who went 0-for-9 in the two games vs. Venezuela and Puerto Rico, popped up to end the threat with just one run across.

“I accept all the criticism,” said Dominican Republic’s manager Rodney Linares. “To me the players went out and did their best. Puerto Rico just played a great game. They pitched well, made great plays. There’s nobody to blame.”

There might not be anyone to blame for the D.R., but this will now go down as one of the biggest disappointments in tournament history, but most important, in the history of the country. The ’09 team also failed to get past the group stage after losing to upstart Netherlands twice. This Dominican Republic team was even more talented than the one 14 years ago, but bowed out of the tournament after just four games.

“At the end of the day, one team has to win and another has to lose,” Soto said. “We came here with the right mentality, but the result just didn’t go our way. They played good baseball and sometimes you have to tip your cap and recognize what they did.”

Puerto Rico did everything to win the game. They got timely hitting and unbelievable pitching against a tough lineup. An injury to Díaz was the unfortunate part of an otherwise perfect night for the Puerto Ricans. The streets of San Juan will be talking about this one for a very long time.

“I think this pool raised the importance of this tournament,” Hernández said. “We came away with the team and it’s OK to us that three of the best teams were in the same pool. It was important for us to face them and had to beat the best teams.”

Puerto Rico ousts D.R., but mood subdued after Díaz injury (2024)

FAQs

Puerto Rico ousts D.R., but mood subdued after Díaz injury? ›

The loud party in the stands, however, quickly turned into silence and fear as Edwin Díaz

Edwin Díaz
Edwin Orlando Díaz Laboy (born March 22, 1994) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Seattle Mariners.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Edwin_Díaz
was taken off the field in a wheelchair after suffering a right knee injury during the postgame celebration. The 28-year-old Mets closer will undergo further testing on Thursday.

What was Díaz's injury to the WBC? ›

Díaz injured his right knee celebrating with teammates after closing out Puerto Rico's 5-2 victory over the Dominican Republic last March.

What happened to the pitcher from Puerto Rico? ›

He also made the All-MLB First Team. On March 15, 2023, after striking out the side in the ninth inning against the Dominican Republic, sending Puerto Rico to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals, Díaz suffered an injury to his right knee during the celebration and had to be helped off the field.

Who got hurt in Puerto Rico vs Dominican Republic? ›

MIAMI -- Star New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz suffered a right knee injury Wednesday night during the on-field celebration of Puerto Rico's victory over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, turning a celebratory moment somber as he awaits imaging Thursday to determine the severity of the damage.

What happened to the player from Puerto Rico? ›

Mets Closer Will Miss Season After Injury During Celebration. Edwin Díaz collapsed after closing out Puerto Rico's win over the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Recovery from knee surgery will take eight months.

Does Edwin Diaz still get paid? ›

NEW YORK -- Edwin Díaz's $102 million, five-year contract with the New York Mets includes $26.5 million in deferred payments that he won't completely receive until 2042 and also has a club option for 2028 that could make the deal worth $118.25 million over six seasons.

What happened after Diaz resigned? ›

When it became apparent that Díaz, now age 80, was unable to suppress them, there were popular uprisings throughout the country. In May1911 Díaz fled into exile, and Madero was elected president. The Porfiriato had ended.

Did Edwin Díaz hurt in Puerto Rico? ›

Mets' Edwin Díaz hurts his knee during a World Baseball Classic celebration. MIAMI — New York Mets star closer Edwin Díaz injured his right knee celebrating a win Wednesday night that advanced Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic and eliminated the Dominican Republic.

What type of injury did Edwin Díaz have? ›

However, Diaz is coming off major surgery after tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee during the World Baseball Classic last March.

How did Edwin Díaz injure himself? ›

Díaz, 28, underwent a successful repair Thursday and is expected to begin a rehab program in about a week, the Mets tweeted. Díaz injured himself as team members jumped up and down and hugged one another after their 5-2 victory at loanDepot Park in Miami.

Which country is safer Puerto Rico or Dominican Republic? ›

While the island has a lower crime rate than the Dominican Republic, it is not immune to crime. Visitors should be cautious when walking alone at night, particularly in unlit areas or unfamiliar neighborhoods. Another safety concern for travelers to Puerto Rico is the risk of natural disasters, particularly hurricanes.

Why do Dominicans move to Puerto Rico? ›

In the inner rural highlands of Puerto Rico, Dominicans work primarily as seasonal agricultural workers mainly during n the coffee harvest. Nearly one-third of the migrants work as domestics, cleaners, and waiters; another third are operators, craft workers, labourers and street vendors.

Who is favored to win Puerto Rico or Dominican Republic? ›

Puerto Rico vs Dominican Republic picks and predictions. A quick glance at the lineups, and you get why the Dominican Republic is a large favorite in this matchup.

How did Díaz hurt his leg? ›

In a win-or-go-home contest, Edwin Diaz had just struck out the side to lift Puerto Rico past the Dominican Republic and into the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals. But as Diaz's teammates came together and jumped alongside him, the Mets closer fell to the turf and could not put any weight on his right leg.

What Puerto Rico player got hurt? ›

After the game, the Puerto Rico team was jumping in a group in the infield when Díaz fell, grasping his right leg. He was carried a few feet then tried to walk but was not able to put weight on the leg. He was taken from the field in a wheelchair, tears streaming, The New York Times and the AP reported.

Is there a Puerto Rican player in the NBA? ›

JJ Barea, Shabazz Napier and Maurice Harkless all came into the league after and had decent careers. Among the active Puerto Ricans that are actively playing in the NBA are Jose Alvarado of the New Orleans Pelicans and Julian Strawther of the Denver Nuggets.

How did Diaz injure himself? ›

Díaz injured himself as team members jumped up and down and hugged one another after their 5-2 victory at loanDepot Park in Miami. He limped toward the dugout, struggling to put weight on his right leg. He eventually used his left leg to hop over to a wheelchair.

What led to the downfall of Diaz? ›

Francisco Madero, who had attempted to run against Porfirio Díaz in the 1910 election, led a revolt that kindled the Mexican Revolution. In May 1911 revolutionary forces captured Ciudad Juárez and forced Díaz to capitulate and flee into exile.

What happened to Diaz in the Mexican revolution? ›

In May 1911, after the Federal Army suffered a number of defeats against the forces supporting Madero, Díaz resigned in the Treaty of Ciudad Juárez and went into exile in Paris, where he died four years later.

What surgery did Diaz have? ›

His teammates lifted Diaz from the ground and placed him on a wheelchair to be taken from the field in pain. It has been disclosed that Diaz suffered a tear of the patellar tendon in his right knee. Diaz required surgery to repair the tendon, with a recovery time estimated to be “around” eight months.

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