Unbeaten DR thumps Israel to clinch spot in quarterfinals

MIAMI -- Fernando Tatis Jr. spent the first two games of the World Baseball Classic setting the table for his teammates.

Monday, he decided to eat.

Tatis hit the first grand slam by a Dominican Republic player in Classic history, setting a team record with six RBIs to lead the D.R. to a 10-1 victory over Israel at loanDepot park – and a trip to the Classic quarterfinals.

Dominican starter Brayan Bello was brilliant, limiting Israel to only one hit – a solo homer by Spencer Horwitz – over five innings, striking out seven.

The Dominican Republic earned a trip to the next round after improving to 3-0, while the win also secured Venezuela’s spot in the quarters regardless of how its final two games play out.

The loss eliminated Israel (1-2) from advancing out of pool play.

Albert Pujols’ Dominican team has one game remaining, taking on Venezuela Wednesday night (8 ET, FS1) in what promises to be a loud, electric environment. Although both teams have advanced, that game will have plenty of implications, as the second-place team from Pool D will face defending champion Japan in the quarterfinals.

Israel starter Ryan Prager got off to an impressive start, retiring the top of the Dominican lineup in order. But there were warning signs, namely loud outs made by Ketel Marte (97 mph exit velocity) and Juan Soto (99.3 mph) that must have stuck with Prager.

Prager, a left-hander drafted by the Guardians in the ninth round last summer, walked three of the first four hitters he faced in the second, loading the bases. Agustín Ramírez struck out, giving Prager a chance to escape the jam, but Geraldo Perdomo drew a walk – the fourth of the frame – forcing home the game’s first run.

Tatis wasn’t looking to walk as he stepped to the plate.

Prager actually got ahead of Tatis, 1-2, but his fourth pitch caught too much of the plate, allowing Tatis to rip it over the Israeli bullpen and into the left-field seats. Tatis admired his shot before flipping his bat, setting off a celebration among the thousands of Dominican fans in attendance – and his teammates, many of whom poured out of the dugout to welcome him home for what has become a home run tradition for the team this week.

The home run was the eighth for the Dominicans this week, leaving them only one shy of tying their all-time WBC record (nine in 2006 and 2017).

Two innings later, they hit their ninth.

Oneil Cruz launched a 115.8 mph laser to center field, matching Junior Caminero for the second-hardest-hit home run since such tracking began at the 2023 Classic. First on that list? Cruz’s 116.8 mph rocket against Nicaragua on Friday.

The record for team homers in any WBC belongs to Mexico, which hit 14 in 2009.

Tatis continued his big day with a two-run single in the seventh, becoming the first Dominican player to drive in six runs in a WBC game and tying Adrian Gonzalez (Mexico, 2009) for the second-most RBIs in a WBC game. Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. holds the record, having driven in seven runs for Team USA against South Africa in the first WBC back in 2006.

Tatis, who was 2-for-4 with five walks and four runs scored in the D.R.’s first two games, is now slashing .500/.692/.875 in the tournament.