MIAMI — Nolan Arenado and Buster Posey homered and drove in three runs apiece Sunday night to help the United States earn a berth in the second round of the World Baseball Classic with an 8-0 victory against Canada.
The Americans finished 2-1 in pool play and bounced back from a tough loss Saturday, when they blew a five-run lead and were beaten by the Dominican Republic 7-5. The U.S. failed to reach the final in the three previous WBCs.
The Dominicans also advanced to the second round in San Diego by beating Colombia 10-3 in 11 innings Sunday. The Dominicans, who won the 2013 tournament, finished 3-0 in the first round.
Canada went 0-3.
Danny Duffy became the third consecutive U.S. starter to turn in a scoreless outing. He struck out seven in four innings, and the only baserunners against him were Jonathan Malo and Pete Orr on consecutive two-out singles in the third.
ISRAEL 4, CUBA 1: Israel took advantage of timely hits and solid pitching at Tokyo to improve to 4-0.
Alfredo Despaigne put Cuba up 1-0 with a solo home run in the second inning but Israel tied the game in the fourth on a double by Ryan Lavarnway that scored Ike Davis from first.
Israel took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Zach Borenstein singled to right, scoring Ty Kelly from second base. Blake Gailen made it 3-1 with a two-out double to right that scored Nate Freiman.
Israel tacked on a run in the eighth on a bunt by Gailen that scored Borenstein from third.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 10, COLOMBIA 3: Welington Castillo hit a tiebreaking two-run single in a seven-run 11th inning as the Dominican Republic won its final pool game at Miami.
The defending champions, who were coming off a dramatic 7-5 victory against the United States on Saturday night, advanced to the second round Tuesday in San Diego. The Dominicans have won 11 straight in the tournament.
Jose Bautista and Carlos Santana began the 11th as the designated runners at second and first base, part of the tournament tiebreaking rules. Mel Rojas Jr. advanced Bautista and Santana with a sacrifice. Gregory Polanco was walked intentionally before Castillo sent a line drive into left-center off William Cuevas.
Jean Segura added a three-run double, and Carlos Santana singled in Robinson Cano to help close it out for the Dominicans.
PUERTO RICO 9, ITALY 3: Carlos Correa hit a three-run homer and Puerto Rico won at Guadalajara, Mexico, to qualify for the second round.
Correa connected in the fourth inning, the second home run in the tournament for the Houston shortstop.
Enrique Hernandez also drove in three runs for Puerto Rico, which went 3-0 in the first round. Puerto Rico also beat Venezuela 11-0 and Mexico 9-4.
JAPAN 8, NETHERLANDS 6: Sho Nakata drove in two runs with a single in the 11th inning as Japan won at Tokyo to improve to 4-0.
Under the tournament’s tiebreak rule, the 11th inning started with runners at first and second base. Seiya Suzuki bunted to advance the runners and set up Nakata’s clutch hit to left field.
Japan took a 5-1 lead in the third but the Netherlands tied it with four runs in the bottom of the inning, including a two-run homer by Wladimir Balentien.
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