Puerto Rico 6, United States 5: Stars & Stripes comeback falls short

The game appeared to be well in hand after the first inning for Team Puerto Rico on Friday night after scoring four runs off Marcus Stroman and Team USA.

But Puerto Rico had to hold onto a 6-5 lead after Team USA scored two runs in the ninth inning. Team Puerto Rico with the wins, takes the title for Pool F no matter the outcome of Saturday’s game. Team Venezuela and Jose Altuve have been eliminated.

The Puerto Ricans opened the game with six hits, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Carlos Correa drove in the first run with a single to right, scoring Angel Pagan. Carlos Beltran singled to center to score the second run.

The fourth run in the inning was scored on a groundball double play by Eddie Rosario.

Eric Hosmer (2nd inning), Buster Posey (5th inning) and Adam Jones (sixth inning) answer back for Team USA with solo home runs. But the Stars and Stripes still trailed 4-3.

A Nolan Arenado throwing error allowed two runs to score in the sixth inning for Puerto Rico.

USA didn’t go away. Brandon Crawford tripled with two outs and two on - scoring Arenado and Eric Hosmer. But Josh Harrison struck out to end the game.