Puerto Rico beats Netherlands in baseball classic

Puerto Rico beat the Netherlands baseball team 3-1 in the eighth inning on Monday to advance to the second round of the World Baseball Classic.

The Netherlands pulled off a major upset in its tournament opener Saturday, beating the Dominican Republic 3-2. The pitching staff, with coach Bert Blijleven in the dugout, also was impressive against favoured Puerto Rico, protecting a 1-0 lead until the eighth, when Yadier Molina double keyed a three-run rally for Puerto Rico.

The Netherlands will face the Dominican Republic again in an elimination game Tuesday night. The winner of that game will play Puerto Rico on Wednesday for first place in Group D.