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WBC Pool D Rematch - Dominican Republic vs. Netherlands

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WBC Pool D Rematch - Dominican Republic vs. Netherlands

The Dominican Republic will look to extract some avenge against the Netherlands for its Game 1, 3-2 loss to the Dutch when the two Pool D foes square off tonight at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The loser of tonight’s contest will be eliminated from the tournament while the winner will advance to play in Round 2 of the Classic in Miami.

The Dominican team spanked Panama 9-0 win on Sunday to break out of a slump as Miguel Olivo (two home runs and five RBIs) and Nelson Cruz (a home run) went wild at the plate.

"Anybody can win a game for the team," said Olivo after the victory. "Today, it was me and Cruz. But it could have been [David Ortiz] or [Miguel] Tejada."

The Dominican team has gotten some solid pitching in its first two games in the Classic and all three runs that the Netherlands scored in Game 1 were unearned.
Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez will start for the Dominicans.

"He has a repertoire that is incredibly powerful," said manager Felipe Alou. "He is a young pitcher, who, last season, was one of the best pitchers in the National League in the second half of the season."

The Netherlands team will go to the game in high spirits, despite a narrow 3-1 loss to Puerto Rico on Monday night. The Dutch were just five outs away from upsetting the host team before its 1-0 lead vanished in the eighth.

Dutch manager Rod Delmonico is confident that his team can measure up with the Dominican squad.

"I think that we are going to do the same thing as we have done in the last two games," Delmonico said. "We are going to play the hardest we can. It all starts with pitching.”

The Netherlands team will counter with right-hander Tommy Stuifbergen and features MLB talents Dennis Neuman, Juan Carlos Sulbaran and Curt Smith.

The Dominican team is a virtual who’s who of MLB stars, from hurlers Carlos Marmol, Pedro Martinez and Edinson Volquez to bashers, Hanley Ramirez, David Ortiz, Miguel Tejada and Moises Alou.

WBC Odds:

  • Dominican Republic -2½ -170
  • Netherlands +2½ +130
  • Over 8½ -125
  • Under 8½ -115

Analysis: After getting arguably the shock of the entire World Baseball Classic in Game 1, I fully expect the Dominican Republic team to bounce back with a vengeance tonight while laying an emphatic ‘smackdown’ on a Netherlands team that really shouldn’t stand a chance against such a talented Dominican team.

I like Team Dominican Republic to win and cover the 2½-run spread, while playing Under the 8½-run total.

WBC Free Pick: Dominican Republic 6 Netherlands 2