Puerto Rico stifles Dominicans

Jose Cruz Jr. went 3 for 5 with three RBIs, and four Puerto Rico pitchers combined to shut down the Dominican Republic in a 7-1 win in the second round of the World Baseball Classic Sunday in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Pitchers Javier Vazquez, Jose Santiago, Kiko Calero and J.C. Romero combined to limit the Dominicans to one run and six hits.

Los Angeles Angels starter Bartolo Colon matched Vazquez in the early going, allowing one run and four hits in five innings, but Puerto Rico roughed up reliever Damaso Marte in the sixth.

Carlos Beltran walked and Javy Lopez doubled to left to open the inning. Cruz then drove in both runners with a base hit and went to second on a throwing error by center fielder Willy Taveras. He went to third on Jose Valentin’s single and scored on Alex Cintron’s bunt hit to give Puerto Rico a 4-1 lead.

Valentin had a two-run single in the seventh to extend the lead to 7-1.

Vazquez allowed a solo homer to Seattle Mariners third baseman Adrian Beltre in the second but settled down after that, giving up one run and three hits in five innings. He struck out five and didn’t walk a batter.

Cuba 7, Venezuela 2: At San Juan, 10-time Gold Glove winner Omar Vizquel missed a double play opportunity and gave up an additional out on a fielder’s choice, and Cuba capitalized with a five-run sixth inning.

Frederich Cepeda hit a three-run homer and Ariel Pestano followed with a solo shot as the underdog Cubans broke out after Johan Santana departed in the opening game of the second round of the World Baseball Classic.

Venezuela scored its only two runs in the seventh on Endy Chavez’s home run to right with Edgardo Alfonzo on second.

South Korea 2, Mexico 1: At Anaheim, Calif., Jae Seo pitched 5 1/3 strong innings, Seung Yeop Lee hit a two-run homer, and South Korea beat Mexico for its fourth straight win.

Seo allowed only two baserunners, giving up a solo homer to Luis Alfonso Garcia leading off the third and a one-out single to Vinny Castilla in the fourth.