Puerto Rico ousts US from WBC

The Associated Press, Miami | Sports | Sun, March 17 2013, 6:37 AM

The United States was eliminated from the World Baseball Classic on Friday after falling to Puerto Rico and its 38-year-old pitching star Nelson Figueroa, 4-3.

Figueroa (2-0) dominated the Americans, allowing only a single by Brandon Phillips in the fourth and a single by Jimmy Rollins in the sixth. After throwing his last pitch to end the sixth inning, he leaped off the mound and ran to hug catcher Yadier Molina.

JC Romero escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and retired the final four batters for his first save. Center fielder Angel Pagan caught the final out, triggering a pileup of Puerto Rican players behind the mound.

"We were supreme underdogs against that lineup," Figueroa said.