Fans in Puerto Rico glued to television as team secures first berth in World Baseball Classic championship
Upset of two-time defending champion Japan is highest-rated sports broadcast in Puerto Rico in past year; 74% of televisions on in Puerto Rico tuned in to final moments of game
Puerto Rico's stunning upset of two-time defending World Baseball Classic Champion Japan on Monday night in San Francisco drew a massive television audience back home. The Semi-Final game - broadcast in Puerto Rico on MLB Network, ESPN Deportes and local station Telemundo WKAQ - averaged a combined 24.2 household rating and 48 share (percentage of viewers whose television was on). Both figures are the highest for any sports program in Puerto Rico in at least the past 12 months. At its peak during the ninth inning and immediately following Puerto Rico's win, the share jumped to an astounding 74.
In Tuesday's final, Puerto Rico will face the winner of tonight's other Semi-Final matchup between the undefeated Dominican Republic team - led by All-Stars Jose Reyes, Robinson Cano, Hanley Ramirez and Fernando Rodney, along with Giants World Champion Santiago Casilla - and the Kingdom of Netherlands, managed by Giants hitting coach Hensley Meulens and led by five-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner Andruw Jones. The roster of the Kingdom of the Netherlands now features infielder Jurickson Profar, the consensus number one prospect in all of Major League Baseball, for the Championship Round. In the 2009 World Baseball Classic, the Kingdom of the Netherlands defeated the Dominican Republic twice in First Round pool play, eliminating them from the tournament.
Individual tickets for both remaining games in San Francisco can be purchased at worldbaseballclassic.com or by calling 877-4SFGTIX. Tickets can also be purchased at any Giants Dugout store or the ballpark. Windows are open at AT&T Park from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. everyday throughout the tournament. Both games will be televised on MLB Network and ESPN Deportes, and the Championship game will also be broadcast by Telemundo WKAQ in Puerto Rico.
Mon., March 18 Semifinal Game 2 Netherlands vs. Dominican Republic 6 p.m. PT
Tues., March 19 Final Semi 1 Winner vs. Semi 2 Winner 5 p.m. PT