Caminero jumpstarts late DR power surge in rout of Nicaragua

MIAMI – As they prepared for their first game in this year’s World Baseball Classic, Juan Soto promised that the Dominican Republic team was going to have fun.

“And we’re going to be loud,” Fernando Tatis Jr. added.

Tatis wasn’t necessarily talking about the sound of Junior Caminero’s bat, but that’s what provided the loudest noise Friday night.

The Rays slugger drilled a two-run home run in the sixth inning, snapping a tie game to lift the Dominican Republic in what became a lopsided 12-3 win over Nicaragua in the first game of pool play for both teams.

“The best thing about Junior Caminero is that he's not afraid of this moment; he loves this spot,” Dominican manager Albert Pujols said. “This is just a glimpse of the things that he's going to hopefully continue to do in this tournament.”

Julio Rodríguez and Oneil Cruz added home runs in a six-run eighth inning, slamming the door on any thoughts of a late Nicaraguan comeback.

“That was a good game for five innings,” Nicaragua manager Dusty Baker said. “The big bats that they have over there, they woke up. … I haven't seen a lineup like that in a while.”

Nicaragua will have to shake off the loss quickly, as it returns to take on the Netherlands at noon on Saturday. The D.R. is off Saturday, resuming action Sunday afternoon, also against the Netherlands.

“I'm glad that we are playing a day game tomorrow,” Baker said. “We don't have much time to think about this loss.”

Thousands of Dominican fans were in the stands for this one, but Nicaragua’s supporters were also out in full force, creating an electric atmosphere from the first pitch.

Nicaragua jumped out to a quick lead in the first, as the first four hitters reached base, the first coming on a strikeout/wild pitch from starter Cristopher Sánchez. Ismael Munguia’s RBI single accounted for the game’s first run, then Sánchez walked Mark Vientos, loading the bases with nobody out.

Sánchez, last year’s National League Cy Young runner-up, struck out the next three batters, making history as the first pitcher in WBC history to have a four-strikeout inning.

“We had him on the ropes, and we have to come out of there if possible with more than one run with bases loaded and nobody out,” Baker said. “I was hoping for a crooked number.”

Ketel Marte tied the game with an RBI double in the bottom of the inning, later scoring on a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. groundout. The Dominican Republic had escaped a big jam in the first and answered with two runs of its own in the same inning, but Nicaragua was not going away quietly.

Four of the first five hitters in the second had hits for Dusty Baker’s squad, as Freddy Zamora and Chase Dawson each drove in runs to put Nicaragua back on top by a run. Sánchez lasted only 1 1/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk, striking out four – all during his historic inning.

J-Rod knotted the game with an RBI single in the third, continuing the early back-and-forth.

The two bullpens settled things down after the early action, as Dominican relievers retired 13 straight following Sánchez’s exit. Nicaragua retired the Dominicans in order in the fourth and fifth, creating plenty of tension in the ballpark that had fans of both teams waiting to erupt.

“You have to give credit especially early in the game to Nicaragua’s pitching,” Pujols said. “They were keeping our guys off balance.”

It felt as though the next run might be the game-winner. That feeling proved to be true.

Manny Machado led off the sixth with a double against Stiven Cruz, a 24-year-old righty in the Brewers system. Two pitches later, Caminero launched his 414-foot blast to center field, giving the Dominicans a two-run lead and setting off a celebration in the stands – and on the field, where a number of teammates jumped out of the dugout to await his arrival at home plate.

“When I was running the bases, I didn't hear the people screaming,” Caminero said. “I was kind of blocked; I cried a couple of tears when I got to the dugout.”

Caminero took his time getting from third to home, jumping and gesturing his way down the line. He was met by Machado, J-Rod and Fernando Tatis Jr., performing his custom celebration with each teammate. The 22-year-old was also given the team’s customized home run jacket, which he slipped on before raising both arms to the fans, who were as loud as they had been all game.

“Our fans love baseball,” Pujols said. “We breathe, we eat, we live baseball, and that's something you're going to see here in the next couple of weeks in Miami.”

The celebration was walk-off worthy, but the D.R. still had nine outs to go to seal the win.

Wandy Peralta and Camilo Doval recorded the first six before the D.R. broke out with its big eighth inning. In total, seven D.R. relievers combined for 7 2/3 scoreless innings, but the offense stole the show before the night was over.

“I think everybody is loose,” Pujols said. “They know that it’s just one pitch, one at-bat before that offense clicks in.”