Dominican Republic wins bronze in Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Dominican Republic wins bronze in Tokyo 2020 Olympics
04/09/2021
In its second Olympic appearance, the Dominican Republic made history today at the Yokohama Baseball Stadium by winning the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in baseball. The Dominican Republic edged Korea, 10-6.

In its second Olympic appearance, the Dominican Republic made history today at the Yokohama Baseball Stadium by winning the bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in baseball. The Dominican Republic edged Korea, 10-6.

Juan Francisco had three RBIs and Johan Mieses hit a decisive home run in the eighth to lead the Dominican Republic to victory. It is the first Olympic medal in team sports for the nation.

“This victory means the world to our country,” said slugger Julio Rodríguez. “We, as Dominicans, are characterized by baseball. So being here right now is very special, to be able to win a medal for the country… It really means a lot to me ”.

The bronze medal game was a roller coaster ride from the beginning. Dominican Republic punished Min-Woo Kim early in the game with four runs in the top of the first inning. Emilio Bonifacio ignited the Dominican offense with a double down the right line and then stole third base.

Moments later, Julio Rodríguez and Juan Francisco smashed back-to-back pitches by Kim, hitting a pair of home runs to left and right field respectively, to put the Caribbean team ahead, 3-0. The Dominican Republic added one more on a sacrifice fly with Charlie Valerio’s bases loaded.

Kim lasted just 0.1 innings, allowing three hits and four runs, with one strikeout and one walk. Woochan Cha retired the last two outs of the first inning.

In the bottom of the second, and in the rain, Korea scored his first run. Hyun-Soo Kim led off with a long double against the center-field wall and later scored on a single through the middle by Kun-Woo Park.

Hyun-Soo Kim also scored Korea’s second run with a solo homer in the fourth inning to right field, making the game 4-2. The 2015 Premier12 MVP scored three runs in the game and finished with a .400 average at Tokyo 2020.

In the fifth inning, Melky Cabrera hit the third of his four hits of the game, a double off the right-field wall, to drive Mieses in from first base and give his team a three-run lead.

Korea reacted with three straight singles, the last of which was an RBI hit by center fielder Hae-Min Park to score his team’s third run, opening a four-run fifth inning for Korea. Dominican manager Héctor Borg took out Raúl Valdez and gave the ball to Luis Castillo, who retired Kyoung-Min Hur with an RBI, and was replaced by left-hander Dario Álvarez, who was unable to hold the running back. Park stole third base on Alvarez’s second pitch and then scored the tying run on a wild pitch. Then Hyun-Soo Kim crossed the plate with a single to center field by Baekho Kang off Cristopher Mercedes, the fourth Dominican reliever of the inning.

The Dominican Republic loaded the bases in the top of the sixth, with a walk, a single and a hit on pitch, but Sewoong Park escaped with a big strikeout against Dominican batter Francisco to escape trouble.

Seunghwan Oh took the ball for Korea to pitch the eighth inning with a 6-5 lead, but was only able to retire one out. The Dominicans reloaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk to Rodriguez, and Jeison Guzman scored the tying run on a wild pitch. Two pitches later, Francisco hit a two-run double to opposite field to take the lead again, and then Johan Mieses hit a two-run home run to left field to make it 10-6. Dominican Republic sent 10 batters to the plate in the eighth.

“For me, it was that walk [in the eighth inning] after we were able to tie the game and give Juan Francisco the at-bat,” Rodriguez said. “That was my favorite at-bat. [My] home run was great, it was exciting, but that was my favorite at-bat. “

In the ninth inning, Hyeseong Kim and Hae-Min Park hit a single and a double respectively off Mercedes to open the inning, and Jose Diaz replaced him on the mound. The right-hander saved the game, retiring the next three batters to seal the victory.

República Dominicana se convierte en la séptima nación / territorio en ganar una medalla de béisbol en los Juegos Olímpicos, después de Cuba, Japón, Estados Unidos, Corea, Australia y Taipei Chino. También es la primera vez que República Dominicana gana una medalla olímpica en un deporte de equipo. El bronce en béisbol es la quinta medalla de República Dominicana en los Juegos de Tokio 2020, un récord para la nación centroamericana.

Corea terminó su cuarto torneo olímpico de béisbol en cuarto lugar, luego de una medalla de oro en Beijing 2008, un bronce en Sydney 2000 y un octavo lugar en Atlanta 1996.