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The United States, Italy, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico advanced through from Pools C and D to make it to the second round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic. The Dominican Republic and the United States won Pools C and D, respectively, to make it to the second round while Puerto Rico and Italy were runners-up in Pools C and D, respectively.

The second round of the tournament is a modified double-elimination format. This means that the first five games will be played just like a normal double-elimination tournament, but when the team from the loser’s side makes it to the finals to play the team from the winner’s side, they will only need to win one game as opposed to winning two, which is the case in a true double-elimination format.

The reason behind this is that both of these teams in the finals will be advancing to the next round regardless of the outcome of their final game against one another; that final game is just being used to determine who goes through as the pool winner and as the pool runner-up.

All games from Pool 2 of the second round can once again be seen on MLB Network, and all games will take place from Marlins Park in Miami, Fla. All times listed in the schedule are EST.

Schedule

March 12, 1 p.m.- Italy vs Dominican Republic

March 12, 8 p.m,- Puerto Rico vs United States

March 13, 7 p.m.- Game 1 Loser vs Game 2 Loser

March 14, 7 p.m.- Game 1 Winner vs Game 2 Winner

March 15, 7 p.m.- Game 3 Winner vs Game 4 Loser

March 16, 1 p.m.- Game 5 Winner vs Game 4 Winner

Predictions

United States (3-0)

Things will get significantly harder for the United States in Pool 2 play, but the Americans will be up for the challenge. The United States began to swing the bats very well over the course of this past weekend, and it eventually led to the Americans blowing away Canada in the final innings of their game on Sunday.

The Dominican Republic will prove to be the toughest test for the United States, but thanks to an incredibly strong bullpen, the Americans will be able to get through Pool 2 undefeated and advance into the semifinals.

Dominican Republic (2-2)

The Dominican Republic lineup is absolutely stacked with MLB superstars. The pitching is not nearly as good, however, and that will ultimately be the downfall of the Dominican team.

That downfall will not come in this round, though. The firepower on offense will be enough to lead them through games against Italy and Puerto Rico but not against the United States. Ultimately, the Dominican team will end up as the runner-up in Pool 2, which is good enough for a semifinal spot.

Puerto Rico (1-2)

Puerto Rico opens up with a tough matchup against the United States, but after advancing through a very difficult Pool C, this team is no stranger to tough matchups.

Much like the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico should have little trouble against the Italian side but will not quite have enough to beat the United States. In the end, the fifth game of Pool 2 will be a showdown between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, with the winner advancing into the semifinals. On Sunday, the Dominican Republic showed that it is a little stronger then Puerto Rico, and the Dominicans will show that once again this week.

Italy (0-3)

Most people are surprised that the Italians even made it this far. Give credit where credit is due, but we also have to acknowledge that they defeated two very inconsistent teams in Mexico and Canada.

This time around, the competition is going to be a lot tougher, and Italy will not be ready for the challenge. The Italians had a good run, but this round will be a little too tough for them.

Final Line

The Dominican Republic and the United States will likely square off in two very exciting battles in Pool 2. Ultimately, the United States will show that it is the more balanced side because of its pitching, and it will go to the semifinals as the champion while the Dominicans advance as the runners-up.

Make sure to check back and see all the previews for each game of the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

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The first round is over. Big names went down (Mexico, Canada, Venezuela, Korea) and underdogs rose up (Netherlands, Italy). Powerhouses like the USA and the Dominican Republic looked impressive, as did Japan and Cuba. A lot of well-known MLB players didn’t show up, but some did along with international stars who are studs in their own leagues.

So, who are the individual winners and losers so far in this year’s classic? 

Begin Slideshow

After barely surviving the opening round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic, the United States is back in action on Tuesday night against Puerto Rico to begin Pool 2 play. The game highlights a three-game schedule for Day 11.

Also in action was the Netherlands, facing Japan for seeding purposes one day after upsetting Cuba to earn a spot in the semifinals. The day’s other game features Italy and the Dominican Republic in each nation’s Pool 2 opener.

Here’s a recap of all the action on Day 11, which will be updated throughout the day as the results roll in from Miami, where the second-round games are taking place in Team USA’s group.

Japan Defeats the Netherlands, 10-6

Japan took another positive step in its quest to win a third consecutive World Baseball Classic championship by withstanding a late rally from the Netherlands. The victory secures the top seed out of Pool 1 for the Japanese squad.

The game got off to a perfect start for the Netherlands. Andrelton Simmons, who was one of the heroes in the victory over Cuba, led off with a long home run. The Atlanta Braves shortstop has been one of the tournament’s most impressive players so far.

Things got ugly in the second inning for the surprise semifinalists, though. Japan brought 12 batters the the plate, scored eight runs, chased Dutch starter David Bergman and took firm control of the contest. It was the type of hitting performance that helped Japan win the first two WBC titles.

Designated hitter Shinnosuke Abe sparked the offensive explosion. Japan’s most dangerous hitter hit two homers in the inning, a lead-off shot and a three-run blast to cap the scoring, to further justify the pre-tournament hype he received.

Japan seemed to put it on cruise control from there, getting scoreless innings of relief from Hirokazu Sawamura, Masahiro Tanaka and Takeru Imamura.

Then, in the seventh inning, the Netherlands started to mount a comeback. Three straight batters reached base to start the frame, the third being Boston Red Sox prospect Xander Bogaerts, who drove home Curt Smith. Randolph Oduber added a sacrifice fly.

The rally continued in the eighth with three more runs for the Netherlands, cutting Japan’s lead to 8-6. Smith brought home a run on a groundout while Kalian Sams and Quintin De Cuba provided RBI singles for the Dutch.

Japan finally stopped the bleeding in the bottom of the inning, however, scoring two runs to pad its lead courtesy of a Hisayoshi Chono single. The Netherlands was silenced in the ninth inning by Kazuhisa Makita, giving Japan the 10-6 win.

The Dominican Republic Uses Late Rally to Down Italy, 5-4

After Edinson Volquez walked the first three batters he faced on Tuesday and Italy jumped out to a 4-0 lead behind Chris Colabello‘s three-run home run, things didn’t look good for the Dominican Republic.

Lucky for them, the stars came out in the late innings to save the day.

Jose Reyes homered and scored two runs, Robinson Cano added a jimmy-jack and Nelson’s Cruz’s broken-bat single to right field capped a three-run rally in the seventh inning to give the Dominicans the lead for good on Tuesday in Miami Marlins Ballpark.

Volquez reminded us all just how scary he can be during the early innings. His three walks to start the game got Italy off on the right foot, and after a sacrifice fly, Colabello cleared the bases to give the Italians an early jump on one of the WBC‘s favorites to win it all.

But the Dominicans responded as the game went on, particularly by chipping away at the 4-0 lead and using their bullpen to complete shut down the Italian offense. After Volquez left after 4.1 innings, the bullpen allowed just one hit and three baserunners. Pedro Strop gets the win (his second of the WBC) while Fernando Rodney worked around a one-out walk to get a Drew Butera to ground into a double-play to end the game.

The Dominicans will now grab some momentum heading into the winner’s game of Pool 2, as they will now await the victor between Puerto Rico and the United States—scheduled to be held on Tuesday night.

USA defeats Puerto Rico, 

After Jimmy Rollins and Brandon Phillips began the game by grounding out to short, Ryan Braun got on with a two-out walk. Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer wasted no time in blasting a double to deep center, thus bringing in the first run of the game.

For five innings, that’s all Gio Gonzalez would need.

Gonzalez was superb for 5.0 innings, allowing three hits, no runs and striking out five batters in the process. The Washington Nationals ace allowed just two opponents to reach second base in that time.

Intra-division rival and New York Mets third baseman David Wright rewarded Gonzalez for his efforts.

Wright grounded into a fielders choice with the bases loaded in the third inning. In a game-defining moment, however, Wright beat out the throw to first and allowed Phillips to cross home plate and make it 2-0.

Two innings later, Wright struck again. This time, he hit a single to right field that scored Rollins and made it 3-0.

Gonzalez exited with a potential win in tact.

In the sixth inning, Irving Falu hit a one-out single. Jeremy Affeldt quickly responded by forcing Alex Rios to ground into an inning-ending double-play—a play that summed up Puerto Rico’s efforts.

This was a trend for nearly two full innings, as neither team managed to get on the scoreboard. Fortunately for the U.S., Adam Jones drove in Eric Hosmer and brought the lead to 4-0 to support this masterful pitching performance.

In the 8th inning, however, Angel Pagan cut the lead to 4-1 with an RBI groundout. Jesus Feliciano scored on the play and had many thinking that Puerto Rico would finally make their comeback.

Until Mr. Wright struck again.

With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth, Wright launched a Xavier Cedeno pitch over Pagan’s head. Rollins, Braun and Mauer would all score as Wright pulled up with a double.

His fifth RBI of the game gave Team USA a 7-1 lead—an advantage that they would not lose

For the top of the ninth, reigning MLB Rolaids Relief Man award winner Craig Kimbrel came on to close things out. After allowing Yadier Molina to crack a one-out single, Kimbrel put Puerto Rico away.

Phillips flips it to Rollins, Rollins throws it to Hosmer and it’s over—team USA wins.

The Americans will now play the Dominican Republic on Mar. 14. Puerto Rico will play Italy in an elimination game.

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Who would have known that Canada vs. Mexico would have become the most heated rivalry in the World Baseball Classic?

After some tough slides, and a bunt for a base hit in the top of the ninth by Canada with a six-run lead, Team Mexico’s Arnold Leon threw two pitches tight and inside on Team Canada’s Rene Tosoni. Following the second pitch, home plate umpire Brian Gorman issued warnings to both the Canadian and Mexican benches; unfortunately, the warning would not be enough.

With the next pitch, Leon drilled Tosoni square in the back, igniting a fight that would delay the game for several minutes. Many current major league players were included, with Boston’s Alfredo Aceves and Seattle’s Oliver Perez being two of the most involved at first glance.

Let us not forget, that both Team Canada and Team Mexico have several big leaguers on their squads, which means the likes of Adrian Gonzalez, Joey Votto, Justin Morneau and others could have been involved as well.

The more troubling aspect of the fight was the aftermath. Fights spilled over into the stands between fans, as was pointed out by Marc over at USS Mariner:

This is crazy.Just end the game.“@jeffpassan: Another fight breaking out in the stands. Second one so far.”

— Marc W. (@USSM_Marc) March 9, 2013

The fights were not all, however. After tempers had begun to finally subside, a water bottle was thrown from the stands, striking one of the Canadian bench coaches in the face. Later in the half inning, a baseball would be thrown towards the Canadian first base coach, prompting Canadian manager Ernie Whitt to step out of the dugout to speak with Gorman, in what many assume was a request to call the game.

Now, bunting while up six runs in most scenarios would be frowned upon. However, run differential is used as a tiebreaker in the World Baseball Classic. And after a 14-4 mercy-rule loss to Italy the day before, Canada needed every run they could get, which was also pointed out by the masses on Twitter:

Mexico is in the wrong here. Run differential is a major tiebreaker. Bunting for a hit with a 9-3 lead does not warrant retaliation.

— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) March 9, 2013

Now, the biggest fear for every major league team coming into the WBC every season is the health of their players. The WBC also makes sure to protect players of major league clubs by placing pitch counts per round to be similar to the workload of spring training.

However, there is no way to prevent inevitable hot-headedness that comes from the frustration of losing. Moving forward, the rumble in the desert between Canada and Mexico is going to make it a little more difficult for major league clubs to feel comfortable allowing their players to participate in the WBC.

With no disrespect to either Canada or Mexico, can you imagine the nightmare that would have come from a brawl involving the likes of Venezuela, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic or the United States?

Keith Law of ESPN retweeted about it as one of the many inevitable issues that will come from this:

Everyone else will think it’s hilarious. RT @mikesilvermanbb: #RedSox will not be amused if Aceves was hurt

— keithlaw (@keithlaw) March 9, 2013

Needless to say, the World Baseball Classic is going to have a lot of questions after this brawl, many of which will include how to punish those involved. It will be interesting to see how the WBC handles this nightmare, and what this is going to mean for the event moving forward.

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All hell broke loose in the ninth inning of a World Baseball Classic game between Canada and Mexico on Saturday. 

Both benches cleared for the brawl, and play was delayed for around 10 minutes. There were fights taking place all over the field, and seven players were ejected, according to USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale:

Seven players ejected from Mexico-Canada game and discipline under review #wbc

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 9, 2013

Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reports that the ejected players include Mexico’s Arnold Leon, Oliver Perez, Eduardo Arredondo and Alfredo Aceves, and Canada’s Pete Orr, Rene Tosoni and Jay Johnson:

Players ejected: Leon, Oliver Perez, Arredondo, Aceves. Orr, Tosoni, jay Johnson

— DannyKnoblerCBS (@DKnobler) March 9, 2013

With Canada up 9-3, Chris Robinson led off the inning with a bunt single. Given that his team was already up by six runs, that could be considered “bush league,” but run differential does matter for tiebreakers in the World Baseball Classic. 

It also didn’t help matters that earlier in the game Robinson made a hard slide into second base that could have been viewed as having intent to injure a fellow player. 

After Robinson got on first base, Rene Tosoni stepped into the box, and Mexico pitcher Arnold Leon threw the first pitch of the at-bat close to his knees. Given the physical play in the game earlier, the umpire warned both benches. 

Leon was not worried about anything the umpire had to say, as his next pitch hit Tosoni square in the back. Tosoni started to walk out to the mound, and that was when things got interesting. 

MLB Network showed a replay where Mexico’s third baseman, Luis Cruz, actually motioned to Leon and told the pitcher to hit Tosoni after Johnson bunted for a single. This has been denied, according to Nightengale: 

Mexico manager Renteria says he doubts that #Dodgers 3B Luis Cruz ordered the intentional plunking

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 9, 2013

Judging by the welts on Alfredo Aceves’ head, he certainly got the worst of his tangle with Blue Jays prospect Jay Johnson:

Alfredo Aceves’ head doesn’t look too good after the Mexico-Canada brawl at the World Baseball Classic twitter.com/BleacherReport…

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 9, 2013

Fans also got in on the action, as there were some Mexican fans behind the Canadian dugout. One fan threw a bottle that hit a Canadian player right in the face. The public address announcer got on the microphone to warn fans that they would be fined, spend time in prison, etc. 

It was an incredibly embarrassing sight to see in an event that is supposed to celebrate the best that baseball has to offer to a worldwide audience. 

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The 2013 World Baseball Classic has officially entered its second week. Twelve countries were still alive coming into Saturday’s action in what’s been a thrilling first round.

Day 8 began with a high-stakes second-round clash between Cuba and Chinese Taipei. But it will be highlighted by four first-round games from Pools C and D, including the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Venezuela and the United States, among others.

The Americans are already off to an 0-1 start in Pool D but can right the ship with a win against Italy on Saturday night.

Here we’ll recap all of the day’s action, updating scores and results.

Puerto Rico 6, Venezuela 3

One day after putting forth a lackluster effort in a 3-0 win against Spain, Puerto Rico proved that its run in Pool C was not a joke. The powerful Venezuelan lineup could muster just seven hits and three runs against this pitching staff. 

The victory for Puerto Rico took all of the drama out of Sunday for Pool C, as its game against the Dominican Republic will just determine seeding in the second round. Both teams enter the matchup 2-0 and locked up berths in the next round, which begins on Tuesday. 

Coming into the World Baseball Classic, Venezuela looked like it might have one of the most potent lineups in the event with Miguel Cabrera, Pablo Sandoval and Carlos Gonzalez hitting 3-4-5. 

But Puerto Rico’s pitching did a masterful job of keeping players off base before those three came up to bat and held them to just 2-for-11 with one extra-base hit. 

Venezuela did start the game strong, taking a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Carlos Zambrano was cruising into the fourth inning, then it all fell apart when he had issues with the home plate umpire’s strike zone. 

Puerto Rico took a 3-2 lead after five innings and never looked back, tacking on three insurance runs in the eighth inning to preserve the win. 

Up next, Venezuela (0-2) and Spain (0-2) will try to salvage what’s left of the World Baseball Classic when they meet at 12:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. Puerto Rico (2-0) and the Dominican Republic (2-0) will get a final tune up before moving on to the second round at 7:30 p.m. ET. 

Canada 10, Mexico 3

Even though Canada’s offensive attack gave the country its first win of the 2013 World Baseball Classic, the story of the game was the benches-clearing brawl that happened in the top of the ninth inning.

Canada’s Chris Robinson bunted for a single with his team already up 9-3 because run differential does matter for tiebreakers in the event. Mexico third baseman Luis Cruz apparently told pitcher Arnold Leon to send a message to Alex Tosoni, the next hitter. 

After Arnold’s first pitch was at Tosoni’s knees, the umpire warned both benches. Arnold’s next pitch hit Tosoni square in the back and all hell broke loose. Both benches cleared, several brawls broke out on the field, fans in the stands started throwing things onto the field and at players. 

The whole situation was a complete mess that really took away from the game, which was an impressive win for Canada and kept its hopes of getting into the second round alive. 

Michael Saunders had an outstanding day at the plate, with four hits and three RBI. Justin Morneau also had four hits and drove in three runs in the Canadian romp. 

Canada (1-1) will take on the United States in an elimination game for both countries on Sunday. Mexico (1-2) has to hope for a lot of help if it wants to advance, as it finished Pool Play 1-2 with its lone victory over the United States. 

Cuba 14, Chinese Taipei 0

Things went from bad to worse for Chinese Taipei in Tokyo on Saturday, as it dropped its second game in as many days, falling to Cuba 14-0 in seven innings.

The brutal loss eliminates Chinese Taipei from the WBC.

Cuba blew the game wide open in the bottom of the fourth inning, when Yasmany Tomas blasted a home run that doubled the Cubans’ lead, putting it up 6-0. Cuba would add eight more runs in the bottom of the sixth to put Chinese Taipei away for good.

Jose Fernandez, Frederich Cepeda and Tomas each recorded three RBI in the rout. The win pulls Cuba to 1-1 in the second round following Friday’s loss to the Netherlands. It will conclude the second round against the loser of Sunday’s Japan vs. Netherlands matchup.

Chinese Taipei threw all sorts of pitchers at Cuba on Saturday, but nothing was working. The Cuban lineup played one of the best offensive games of any team at the WBC this March. Four different players homered for Victor Mesa’s squad, including Jose Abreu and Alfredo Despaigne to close out the sixth inning.

Meanwhile, Danny Betancourt was brilliant on the mound for Cuba, striking out three and allowing just three hits in six innings of play.

Chinese Taipei’s ugly defeat comes just one day after it fell 4-3 to Japan in 10 innings to begin the second round in bitter fashion. Following Saturday’s embarrassing performance against Cuba, many will be wondering whether the hangover from Friday’s crushing loss is to blame.

Dominican Republic 6, Spain 3

Robinson Cano and the Dominican Republic jumped out to an early lead on Saturday against Spain and never let off the gas pedal, winning 6-3 in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Nelson Cruz and Carlos Santana each recorded two RBI for the Dominicans as they put themselves in position to advance from Pool C and into the second round. 

Samuel Deduno was strong to start the game for the Dominican Republic, surrendering just four hits and zero runs in four innings pitched. He gave way to Alfredo Simon, who pitched three innings, allowing just one run from the Spanish.

While the Dominican pitching staff flexed its muscles all game long, the Spanish staff was plagued by a poor start. Starter Yoanner Negrin gave up five runs in just over two innings, putting Spain in a huge hole early on.

Engel Beltre helped put Spain on the board in the top of eighth inning thanks to a rare mistake by Cano. And then Yasser Gomez helped ignite Spain’s final charge in the ninth with a single to center, which narrowed the gap. But it was a case of too little, too late for the Spanish, as they fell for the second straight day.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter. 

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Team USA didn’t get off to the best of starts at the World Baseball Classic. In a sizable upset, Mexico won 5-2 to earn their first victory of the tournament after losing their opener to Italy 6-5. 

In a tournament that doesn’t afford much room for error and slip-ups, this was a huge blow for Team USA. Considered one of the favorites for the tournament, they’ll certainly need to improve their performance going forward if they want to advance to the second round. 

It wasn’t all bad, though. Both teams received commendable efforts from individual players that can be built upon as both Mexico and Team USA try to navigate their way through Pool D. Here were the players who shined in this opening round tilt. 

USA

David Wright, 3B

Team USA only generated two runs, so there weren’t very many productive bats in the lineup, but Wright had a pretty good day at the plate overall. 

The third baseman went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in one of the team’s two runs with a two-out single that brought Jimmy Rollins in and moved Ryan Braun to third base. It wasn’t a highlight home run, but he got the job done with two outs and you can’t ask for much more. 

He left two runners on base, but just about everyone in the U.S. lineup left runners on base in this one. Missed opportunities defined this one for Team USA and that made Wright’s RBI stand out.

Mexico

Adrian Gonzalez, 1B

Gonzalez was a one-man wrecking crew for Mexico. 

He bashed a two-run dinger off of R.A. Dickey in the third inning with two outs that turned out to be the runs that would put Mexico up for good. In addition to that, he drew three walks and drove in another run. 

That kind of patience at the plate makes Gonzalez one of the most dangerous bats in this entire tournament and a huge advantage for Mexico going forward. If it weren’t for his big day this one might have been a bit closer. He was the determining factor. 

Sergio Romo, CP

Perhaps the biggest takeaway for Mexico was that Sergio Romo was able to bounce back to earn the save in this game. 

In Mexico’s opening game against Italy, Romo was called upon in the ninth inning to slam the door on the Italians and secure the win with a one-run lead. Instead, he earned a blown save by giving up two runs on three hits.

Romo had a bit easier task this time around, inheriting a three-run lead in the ninth inning that he was able to keep by retiring the USA side in order. There wasn’t much pressure involved but the fact that he could go three-up and three-down to close out the game was a good sign that Mexico can depend on him to put his early blown save behind him. 

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The United States continues World Baseball Classic play with a matchup against Italy. Expectations were low for the Italian squad coming into the event, but it’s already proven to be a formidable opponent the Americans can’t afford to overlook.

After some disappointing finishes in the first two WBC tournaments, it’s important for the United States to bear down and take care of the opponents it should beat this time around. Italy falls into that category despite a couple of solid showings.

Let’s examine three American players who will be key to the team’s success on Saturday.

Brandon Phillips

The United States roster is filled with stars, so maybe it shouldn’t be a surprise that Phillips isn’t receiving much attention. But he should be. He’s been one of the most reliable second basemen in baseball over the past seven years.

He’s hit at least 17 home runs in every season over that span and is also a stolen-bases threat. Add in the fact that the Cincinnati Reds stalwart is also one of the best defenders at the position in MLB, and he can clearly have a big impact for the United States.

The good news for Phillips is that he should see a lot of pitches to hit. Since there’s really nowhere to go for opposing pitchers to get a breather, they are forced to attack the zone against the secondary hitters, and he should capitalize.

Ryan Vogelsong

Vogelsong gets the call on the mound for Team USA. After struggling mightily in the early part of his career, he’s found his comfort zone with the San Francisco Giants over the past two seasons. He’s posted ERAs of 2.71 and 3.37, respectively.

The key for starting pitchers in the opening round is the pitch limit. In an effort to keep them from being pushed too far in an exhibition, they aren’t allowed to throw more than 65 pitches. It means they have to be economical right out of the gate.

The good news for Vogelsong is that the American bullpen is very strong. If he can provide the team with around four or five solid innings of work, the relievers should be able to shut down Italy the rest of the way.

Giancarlo Stanton

When Mark Teixeira was forced to leave due to injury, the team lost a major power hitter. The American lineup is stacked with versatile players capable of hitting for some power and stealing some bases, but it lacks depth in terms pure home run hitters.

That’s where Stanton comes into play. He’s got an amazing amount of natural pop, and when Team USA is in need of some instant offense, he will be the guy who can provide it. He’s hit 71 home runs over the past two seasons for the Miami Marlins.

There’s a good chance he’s going to get a couple of at-bats with runners on base. If the Americans are going to cruise to victory without any unnecessary drama, which they should, he must capitalize on those opportunities and rack up some RBI.

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After a disappointing 5-2 loss to Mexico (box score via MLB.com) in its World Baseball Classic opener on Friday night, Team USA needs Brandon Phillips and Giancarlo Stanton to step up in order for the team to advance.

Before the team takes on Italy on Saturday, there needs to be some adjustments made by the players. Ryan Vogelsong is slated to take the mound in the second game, but it’s the offense that needs to get ready to go.

Jimmy Rollins, Joe Mauer and David Wright all recorded multi-hit games in the opener, but the bottom third of the lineup went 0-for-10 with two walks.

Things will get better, but the team can’t wait around too long before the bats wake up. The middle of the order showed up on Friday, but it was tough getting rallies going when there was no production out of the bottom of the lineup.

It will be important for Team USA to avoid falling behind again in the first inning. The offense has the firepower to come back, but the team could use a fast start.

Phillips and Stanton are two of the game’s brightest stars, and they will be counted on to make plays as the tournament goes on.

Brandon Phillips

As the second baseman for the Cincinnati Reds, he is known for his flashy play. He makes more highlight plays than anyone in the league.

He will need to continue to flash the leather in the field, but he will be called upon to get on base for the heart of the lineup. As the No. 2 hitter, he needs to set the table for Ryan Braun, Wright and Mauer.

Unfortunately for Team USA, Phillips went 0-for-4 and struck out twice in the opener. He was one of two starters who did not reach base in the game.

In the last three years, he has hit .298 in the No. 2 spot. The second baseman has a unique set of skills that combines power, average and speed. 

Phillips is at his best when he is swinging early in the count. He hit .301 last year when at-bats lasted less than two pitches, so expect him to come out swinging.

Team USA will take off when Phillips starts to get on base. There may not be a better middle of the lineup in the tournament, but they need guys on base ahead of them. Rollins got on base twice tonight, but Phillips will be the key to this lineup.

Giancarlo Stanton

When Giancarlo Stanton is the No. 7 hitter, it’s a pretty good lineup.

He was part of the bottom third of the lineup that did not have a hit, but he will get rolling at some point. After hitting .290 and smashing 37 homers last year, the 23-year-old will be an important part of the lineup.

The right fielder did draw a walk, but the team needs him to be knocking in runs. He is one of the most dangerous hitters in the world, and his power is second to none.

In his career at Chase Field, he is a .333 hitter and has four home runs in only 39 at-bats.

Like Phillips, Stanton is unreal when swinging at the first two pitches. He hit .457 last year in at-bats that were over within two pitches. 

Conclusion

Team USA needs Phillips and Stanton to go to the plate ready to swing. They are at their best early in the count, and the team can’t expect to win the tournament without them hitting well.

It’s easy to overreact to one game, especially when it’s a loss. Team USA faces Italy on Saturday and Canada on Sunday. 

The opening loss to Mexico is concerning, but it’s not the end of the world. There are still games to be played, and the lineup is working through some early hiccups. Let’s not forget that this team had to replace Mark Teixeira with Eric Hosmer late in the week.

It was a disappointing opener for Team USA, but Phillips and Stanton will be ready to lead their team to the next round. 

*All stats are from ESPN.com

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The first week of the 2013 World Baseball Classic is in the books, and four countries have already advanced to the second round while four others have been eliminated from the 16-team field.

While Japan looks to be in cruise control yet again, other favorites like Venezuela and the United States have fallen behind quickly, each dropping their opening games. The good news for both nations is that there’s a whole lot of baseball still left to be played.

Here we’ll get you caught up on where we stand after the first week of action.

Two-Time Defending Champs Advance From Pool A

As expected, Japan got off to a hot start in Pool A, defeating Brazil and China to book a trip to the second round along with Cuba, which won all three of its games, including a 6-3 win over Japan on Wednesday.

The Japanese have been dominant at this tournament over the years, having won the last two in 2006 and 2009. Most predicted Japan to win before the tournament began last week, and it’s easy to see why. 

Chinese Taipei and Netherlands Survive Pool B

The 2009 runner-up, South Korea, made it tough, but in the end it was Chinese Taipei and the Netherlands advancing from Pool B. Australia lost all three of its games never once proving to be a legitimate threat to the title. 

The Dutch won their opening second-round game, 6-2 against Cuba, while Chinese Taipei fell in heartbreaking fashion to Japan, 4-3 after 10 innings. 

Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico Off to Fast Starts in Pool C

There are still four huge games left to be played before the Pool C picture becomes any clearer, but for now we know that the Dominican squad, led by New York Yankees star Robinson Cano, and the Puerto Rican team are in the best shape after the first two group games.

The Dominican Republic knocked off Venezuela 9-3 on Thursday, while Puerto Rico took out Spain 3-0 on Friday.

Fans will want to keep a close eye on Saturday’s Puerto Rico versus Venezuela matchup as well as Sunday’s showdown between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Both games have mighty implications in terms of deciding who will advance.

United States and Canada Fall Behind Early in Pool D

The Americans have already dug themselves a good-sized hole at the World Baseball Classic, dropping their opening Pool D game to Mexico, 5-2. Meanwhile, Canada was blasted by Italy, losing 14-4 in a game that didn’t require more than eight innings.

Mexico will conclude its first-round play on Saturday against Canada, and the United States will gear up for a game against Italy on Saturday before finishing up against the Canadians on Sunday.

Bracket

Cuba, Japan, Chinese Taipei and the Netherlands are all through to the second round. But the Japanese and the Dutch are off to hot starts already in the second round, having each won their opening second-round matchup in Tokyo.

Cuba and Chinese Taipei aren’t out of it yet, but Japan and the Netherlands are certainly in the driver’s seat to move on to the semifinals this week.

On the bottom of the bracket, the other second-round group is still in the works, as the advancing teams from Pools C and D have yet to be determined. There will be four Pool C and D games on Saturday, and then three others on Sunday to conclude first-round action.

*Visit WorldBaseballClassic.com to view the entire bracket.

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