Puerto Rico did not allow a single baserunner in an eight-inning 10-0 mercy-rule victory over Israel on Monday.
Due to the game being called after eight innings, Puerto Rico will not be credited with a perfect game in the World Baseball Classic.
Martin Maldonado of Team Puerto Rico slides home to score against Team Israel at loanDepot Park on Monday, March 13, 2023, in Miami, Florida. (Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)=)
Four pitchers for Puerto Rico combined to retire 24 straight hitters from Israel, ending the game on a walk-off single from Enrique Hernández in the bottom of the eighth inning.
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“Very happy for the guys, especially after what happened Sunday,” Puerto Rico manager Yadier Molina said in Spanish. “To come out aggressively and win the game the way we did makes me very proud.”
The WBC allows for the mercy rule to apply if a team is up by 10 runs after the seventh inning or by 15 runs after the fifth inning.
Starting pitcher Jose De Leon threw 5.2 innings before three pitchers combined for 2.1 innings the rest of the way.
Jose De Leon of Puerto Rico celebrates after leaving the game in the sixth inning against Israel at loanDepot park on March 13, 2023, in Miami. (Eric Espada/Getty Images)
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De Leon, who plays in the Minnesota Twins minor league system, said he began to realize what was going on after the third inning.
“They didn’t say a word,” De Leon said, according to ESPN. “That’s when I knew something was happening.”
De Leon has struggled with injuries in his career, needing Tommy John surgery in 2018.
“It is a great moment for all of us but especially for him,” Molina said, “with his family being here and what he has gone through in his career. I’m very happy with his outing. I know José very well and have worked with him. He deserves all of this.”
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The Team Puerto Rico pitchers who combined for eight hitless innings in Miami on March 13, 2023, are, from left, Yacksel Ríos, José De León, Edwin Díaz and Duane Underwood Jr. (Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
De Leon struck out 10 hitters, tying a WBC record.
“I dreamt about a moment like this,” De León said. “After all the setbacks I faced, I deserved this type of moment. I wanted to let the public know I am here to stay and also show the world that José De León still can compete.”
Puerto Rico will play the Dominican Republic on Thursday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
