San Juan. One of the big favorites considered to win the 2013 World Baseball Classic will have to go home after the first round. Venezuela also lost its second game in Pool C on Saturday evening. Puerto Rico prevailed in a close contest by a score of 6-3. It was the second win in as many games for the host of the first-round group at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

San Juan. The Dominican Republic has a much better World Baseball Classic as four years ago. The team of manager Tony Pena defeated Spain 6-3 on Saturday afternoon at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It has been their second win in as many games in Pool C of the first round at the 2013 WBC. It was the second loss for Spain.

Phoenix. “When you look into the stands and see all the flags and look into the dugout and see that all of the guys have USA on their uniforms, this makes you a little emotional”.

Phoenix. Canada beat Mexico (10-3) in fronte of almost 20,000 at “Chase Field” in Phoenix and made Italy the first team to make the second round of the World Baseball Classic in Miami. The other teams (Canada, Mexico and the USA) of the poule still have a chance of advancing in the tournament.

Tokyo. Cuba is remaining in contention at the 2013 World Baseball Classic. In game three of the second round at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, which is being played in a modified double elimination format, the record world champion crushed Chinese Taipei 14-0 in seven innings to stay alive.

The Italian bats came alive in the repeat World Baseball Classicmatch up against Team Canada, getting the best of them once again in convincing fashion with a 14 to 4 victory. Team Italy knocked out 14 runs off of 17 hits, as the Canadians were only able push across 4 runs in a mercy rule loss in game 3 of pool D. The Italians move to 2 and 0 in the tournament, which dramatically help their chances in moving onto the second round in this 2013 edition of the World Baseball Classic.

Tokyo/Phoenix/San Juan. Five games were on the schedule on Friday. The day started at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, where the second round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic got underway. The Netherlands continued its strong run, downing Cuba behind the heroics of Jonathan Schoop. Afterwards Japan needed to come back twice to win in extra innings against Chinese Taipei.

The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League unanimously elected Párraga Oscar Prieto as its new president, for the period between 2013 and 2015.

Phoenix. Mexico defeated (5-2) Team USA in front of a roaring44.256 fan crowd in Phoenix, thus providing the second surprise of the day in poule D of the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

San Juan. As European Baseball is dominating the early stages of the 2013 World Baseball Classic, Puerto Rico avoided an upset against Spain, prevailing 3-0 in each team’s first-round openers at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.