DONTRELLE SHELLED AGAIN



You can't say that the inventors of baseball have proven any particular mightiness since the onset of the World Baseball Classic.

Oh sure, you can point to a mercy pasting of the lowly gents from South Africa.

But two losses in five games against the likes of Mexico, Canada, Japan and Korea is hardly the stuff of champions and yesterday's embarassing 7-3 to the Koreans only appeared to solidify the notion that the Americans are far from the World's strongest team, despite their pedigree.

Yesterday, Dontrelle Willis again disappointed but it wasn't soley his unravelling that was the undoing of the Americans. In fact, things were so bad the team was actually booed by the home crowd eager to see their expectations realised, not pissed upon by multimillion dollar All Stars who can't seem to function properly.

To have any hope of advancing, the U.S. must beat Mexico on Thursday with Roger Clemens on the mound and then possibly sweat out the results of other games. Heck, without a controversial call against Japan Sunday, the U.S. may have been all but done last night.

*****
Venezuela 6 Puerto Rico 0


Indians catcher Victor Martinez blasts grandslam to help Venezuela knock off Puerto Rico.

They'd have been eliminated from the WBC if they hadn't won and Venezuela played precisely as though their pride was on the line, knocking previously undefeated Puerto Rico down 6-0 behind Carlos Zambrano, who combined with 6 pitchers on a 7-hitter. A cast of Carlos Silva, Rafael Betancourt, Gustavo Chacin, Victor Zambrano, Jorge Julio and Francisco Rodriguez, two of whom are Mets, allowed five hits over the final five innings. Julio shone in particular, striking out three straight batters in his inning appearance.

Better news still for Mets fans, Endy Chavez hit his second homer of the tournament and even though he's not with the Mets at the moment, you could just hear the outfield competition at Shea grow tighter.

How did Puerto Rico, with Carlos Beltran, Bernie Williams, Javy Lopez and Pudge get shut out? By going 2 for 11 at the plate.

Venezuela plays the Dominican Republic on Tuesday night and Cuba meets Puerto Rico on Wednesday. The winners will advance to the semifinals.

Domincan Republic 7 Cuba 3



Big Papi is still lauching them.

Yesterday he hit his third of the tournament but is still hitting only .143 so far.

Starter Odalis Perez (2-0) struck out three in 4 2-3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk.