This was world domination if there ever was one ... At least in the field.
After failing to get into the last two World Baseball Classics, the Dominicans owned this last one. They got to the final undefeated, and beat Puerto Rico three to nil Tuesday. It was the first time that has ever happened.
"We've got the game in our hearts, and we cannot hold it in," said Octavio Dotel, reliever, after the medal ceremony.
The Dominicans won all eight games and outscored Puerto Rico 36-14.
"DR has huge talent," said Puerto Rico manager Edwin Rodríguez. "They have passion, desire, the drive to really show this kind of amazing performance. They did accomplish it."
The Dominicans reveled in their accomplishment, as manager Tony Peña glowingly talked about what winning the WBC meant to the tiny nation of 10 million.
"I had had enough of the shame of not having a trophy like this," said Peña, who is the New Yankee's bench coach. "Thank god this group of men was able to put our country at the top in terms of baseball."
This is the first major accomplishment for the country that produces more major-league players per capita than any other.
Closer Fernando Rodney, who pitches for the Tampa Bay Rays and saved seven of the eight wins, said that all he wanted was to wave his country's flag high in the air.
"We proved that we are the best baseball country in the world."
Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player as he finished 15-for-32 (.469) with four doubles, two home runs and six RBIs.
However, he passed on the praise to his teammates.
"This is something that you never are going to get it done by yourself," he said. "It's not only me, it's about the whole team."
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