Team USA vs. Dominican Republic Live Stats
Team USA Game Notes
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – After a strong opening-night performance that produced a 7-1 win over Nicaragua at the 2021 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Baseball Americas Qualification Event for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad Tokyo 2020, the USA Baseball Professional National Team will take aim at a second-straight victory Tuesday (June 1) with a 7 p.m. (ET) matchup against the Dominican Republic at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches.
RHP Joe Ryan (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make the start for the U.S., which scored a pair of first-inning runs and never looked back Monday evening against Nicaragua. Luke Williams and Jarren Duran powered Team USA's 14-hit attack with three-hit performances, while Matthew Liberatore and three relievers combined to shut down the Nicaragua offense.
The Dominican Republic posted a 5-2 victory over Puerto Rico in its opening game of the tournament Monday afternoon. Luis Liberato hit the go-ahead home run in the sixth inning, then made a critical sliding catch in the ninth to preserve the victory.
The U.S. Professional National Team has split its previous 12 contests with the Dominican Republic. Team USA scored early and often before holding off a late push by the Dominicans, winning 10-8 in the Opening Round of the 2019 World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 at Estadio de Béisbol Charros de Jalisco in Guadalajara (Nov. 4). Mark Payton’s first-inning homer got Team USA on the board before Jake Cronenworth followed with a solo shot in the second. RBI singles by Erik Kratz and Jo Adell increased the U.S. lead to four in the early going. After the Dominican Republic scored a pair of runs in the second, Alec Bohm’s three-run homer in the third gave Team USA a 7-2 lead. The Dominican Republic scored three runs in the fifth and another run in the ninth, but Brandon Dickson secured the save to advance Team USA to the Super Round.
Team USA will wrap up group play at the AOQ Wednesday (June 2) when it takes on Puerto Rico at Clover Park in Port St. Lucie. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Round, which will take place Friday (June 4) and Saturday (June 5). Each game throughout the AOQ will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Team USA has two more chances to qualify for Tokyo 2020, beginning with the Baseball Americas Qualifier. The U.S. has participated at the Olympic Games in 1988 (demonstration sport), 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2008, winning a gold medal in Seoul 1988 and Sydney 2000. In order to qualify for the Olympic Games from the Baseball Americas Qualifier, the U.S. will need to win the tournament. If the U.S. does not qualify for the Olympic Games out of the Baseball Americas Qualifier, but finishes second or third, they will participate in the Final Qualifier that will take place in Puebla, Mexico from June 22-27.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games will mark the first time baseball has been featured in the Games since 2008 in Beijing, where Team USA won the bronze medal.
Stay tuned to USABaseball.com for all of the latest news, previews and recaps from the WBSC AOQ.
