Dominant Israel pitching holds Nicaragua to 2 singles, evening Classic record

MIAMI -- Unlike Saturday, when Team Israel looked across the field at Venezuela and saw familiar faces such as Ronald Acuña Jr., Luis Arraez and Eugenio Suárez, its opponent Sunday night presented a different type of challenge.

“It’s a little bit more old-school baseball when you don't have as much information,” manager Brad Ausmus said of Nicaragua’s roster, which lacks the star power of Israel’s first opponent. “We do have some information, but it's certainly not like a Major League roster where you have tons of data to sift through. It's like high school baseball in terms of preparation.”

Whatever scouting reports Israel had, they seemed to be effective. Ausmus’ team bounced back from its opening loss in the World Baseball Classic, getting strong pitching and some timely hitting to defeat Nicaragua, 5-0, at loanDepot park.

Israel improved to 1-1 in Pool D play, leaving itself with an opportunity to advance to the quarterfinals with games remaining against the Dominican Republic (Monday, noon ET, FS1) and the Netherlands (Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET, Fox Sports App).

The first shutout in Israel’s WBC history was quite significant, as it assured the team of a spot in the field for the next Classic, since it can’t finish any lower than fourth in Pool D regardless of how those final two games play out.

“It's huge not to have to go through qualifying again,” said Dean Kremer, the only player to appear on each of Israel’s first three WBC rosters. “For not only us as a team, but the country as a whole that I'm more than proud to represent.”

The loss officially eliminated Dusty Baker’s Nicaragua team from moving on, though they will play their final game on Monday night against Venezuela (7 p.m. ET, FS2) as they continue to seek their first win in WBC history.

“If you've got a game to play, you play to win, no matter what's at stake,” Baker said. “I don't like the word ‘spoiler’ because that's a loser's mentality. You've got to come out and try to win the game.”

Nicaragua starter Carlos Rodriguez, a right-hander for the Brewers and former Top 30 prospect for Milwaukee, limited Israel to one run over four innings, giving Nicaragua all it could have asked.

Kremer was a tick better during the first four frames, holding Nicaragua scoreless while retiring 12 of the first 13 hitters to start the game. The Nicaraguan fans were waiting for something to scream about, but Kremer wasn’t giving them much to work with.

“I don't know that we silenced the noise so much as our pitching staff really did,” said Israel second baseman Noah Mendlinger, whose second-inning RBI single accounted for the game’s first run.

With Israel clinging to that 1-0 lead in the fifth, the Orioles right-hander allowed the first two hitters to reach base, activating the bullpen. Kremer struck out Juan Montes for the first out, but with his starter’s pitch count at 63, Ausmus brought in Josh Mallitz, a 24-year-old righty in the Padres’ system who hasn’t pitched above Double-A.

Mallitz walked Melvin Novoa to load the bases, leaving Nicaragua in position to tie the game or take a lead. Mallitz fell behind 3-0 against Freddy Zamora, but two pitches later, he got the shortstop to hit a hard grounder to third, where Jake Gelof fielded it, stepped on third and fired to first, getting Israel out of the jam without surrendering the lead.

“I don't know that I've ever yelled like that before,” Kremer said. “I don't usually get super hyped, but that one was different.”

A big fifth inning helped break open the pitchers’ duel, giving the Israeli bullpen plenty of breathing room to cruise through the final four innings. Zach Levenson drove in two runs, and Harrison Bader and Cole Carrigg knocked in a run apiece in the four-run fifth.

“The communication was outstanding,” Ausmus said. “You could see our guys, even when they made an out, coming back in the dugout, telling the guy on deck what he saw. It certainly helped.”

Four innings later, Israel walked off the field with new life – and a short turnaround before its Monday afternoon game against the Dominican Republic.

“I feel like every game in this pool play is a must-win game,” Carrigg said. “We've got a tough one tomorrow with the D.R., but it's a one-game series, and you never know.”

Ausmus said Saturday’s loss felt like “a stab in the heart,” noting the format of playing each team once. So what did Sunday night’s win feel like?

“Taking the knife out of the heart for a minute,” Ausmus said. “You’ve got to enjoy every win.”