A perfect game, a walk-off hit and a mercy rule win.
Team Puerto Rico achieved all three on Monday in their 10-0 win vs. Team Israel in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, simultaneously penning their name in the record books with the first ever perfect game thrown in tournament history.
Tomase: Kiké Hernández is a defensive upgrade from Bogaerts at short
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Mercy rule in the WBC occurs if a team is up by 10 or more runs after the seventh inning, as seen in Team USA’s 12-1 win in seven innings vs. Canada on Monday.
Boston Red Sox utility man Kiké Hernandez sealed the perfect trio for Puerto Rico, delivering a walk-off single in the top of the eighth inning with runners on first and second.
The perfect game was completed by four pitchers: Jose De Leon (Minnesota Twins), Edwin Diaz (New York Mets), Duane Underwood Jr. (Pittsburgh Pirates) and Yacksel Rios (Atlanta Braves).
De Leon pitched 5.2 innings and recorded 10 strikeouts. Diaz logged a strikeout in one inning pitched while Rios also had one in just one-tenth of an inning pitched.
Boston Red Sox
Hernandez went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, one run scored and one walk. He's hitting .333 through three games for Puerto Rico.
The win pushed Puerto Rico to second in Pool D at 2-1, with Venezuela holding first with a 2-0 record. Israel is tied in third with the Dominican Republic at 1-1.