Japan, Netherlands in final four

TOKYO — Japan and the Netherlands crushed their opponents in second round play at the World Baseball Classic Wednesday, earning a trip to Los Angeles for the semifinals. In late action, the United States got off to a strong second round start with a 4-2 victory over Venezuela. The US and Puerto Rico have each won their first games in Pool F, and are trying to join Japan and the Netherlands in the last four. Japan exploded for five runs in the sixth inning to break open a scoreless contest with Israel at the Tokyo Dome. It then coasted to an 8-3 victory to finish at the top of Pool E and complete an unbeaten run (6-0) through the first two rounds. Earlier, Wladimir Balentien homered twice as the Netherlands dismissed Cuba 14-1 in a rout, which was ended after seven innings because of the tournament’s termination rule. Japan, champion in 2006 and 2009, and the Netherlands will now wait to see which two teams emerge as semifinalists from Pool F, which comprises defending champion the Dominican Republic, the United States, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. The Netherlands, which was knocked out in the semis in the last WBC tournament in 2013, benefited from another fine pitching performance from left-hander Diegomar Markwell. He surrendered just one run in six innings of work but again the Dutch bats did most of the damage, pounding out 13 hits. Balentien and Jurickson Profar led the hit parade with three apiece, while Kalian Sams and Yurendell Decaster also homered. The Netherlands has blasted its way into the final four, scoring 11 runs in three games in the opening round and 32 in the second. It was a disappointing tournament for Cuba. Once considered a Baseball power, Cuba was runner-up to Japan in the first World Baseball Classic in 2006 but exited after going 0-3 in the second round this time. After the Netherlands’ victory, Israel knew it needed a win against Japan to force a tie-breaker. But Israel’s tournament dreams came to a crashing end in the sixth inning. — Reuters