Puerto Rico shuts down Dominican Republic bats

SAN JUAN -- Jose Cruz Jr. went 3 for 5 with three RBIs and four Puerto Rico pitchers combined to shut down the Dominican Republic last night in a 7-1 win in the second round of the World Baseball Classic.

Javier Vazquez, Jose Santiago, Kiko Calero, and J.C. Romero combined to limit the Dominicans to one run and six hits.

Los Angeles Angels starter Bartolo Colon matched Vazquez in the early going, allowing one run and four hits in five innings, but Puerto Rico roughed up Damaso Marte in the sixth.

Carlos Beltran walked and Javy Lopez doubled to left to open the inning. Cruz then drove in both runners with a base hit and went to second on a throwing error by center fielder Willy Taveras. He went to third on Jose Valentin's single and scored on Alex Cintron's bunt hit to give Puerto Rico a 4-1 lead.

Cuba 7, Venezuela 2 -- Ten-time Gold Glove winner Omar Vizquel missed a double play opportunity and gave up an additional out on a fielder's choice, and Cuba capitalized with a five-run sixth inning.

With Cuba ahead, 2-0, and Michel Enriquez on first, DH Osmani Urrutia hit a one-out grounder to the left of Vizquel, who was unable to step on second before Enriquez reached safely, and it was too late to throw to first.

Giovanni Carrara then induced a grounder to second from Yoandri Garlobo that looked like an inning-ending double play. Edgardo Alfonzo tossed the ball to Vizquel for the first out, but the shortstop could not get a grip on the ball to throw to first, and Frederich Cepeda followed with a three-run homer.