SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — On the scale of international sports upsets, the Netherlands’ honkballers one-upped themselves.
The Dutch, who refer to baseball as “honkbal,” beat the Dominican Republic’s roster of all-stars Tuesday night for the second time in four days. Except this time, they eliminated them from the World Baseball Classic, a shocking first-round exit that the Dominican players might never live down back home.
The Netherlands’ team of unknowns capitalized on two errors in the 11th inning to turn a one-run deficit into a 2-1 victory.
After Eugene Kingsale scored the winning run when first baseman Willy Aybar booted a grounder that should have been the third out, the Dutch team stormed the field. The on-field mosh-pit celebration lasted more than five minutes.
Venezuela 10, Italy 1
TORONTO — Bobby Abreu, Miguel Cabrera, Jose Lopez and Ramon Hernandez hit consecutive home runs in the fifth inning as Venezuela eliminated the Italians and advanced to play the United States tonight to decide the winner of Group C.
Denver Post wire services
