Touch 'Em All: Dominican Republic beats Puerto Rico, 2-0, in World Baseball Classic

It will be a Dutch treat for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic - the only games that count for anything right now - after Wandy Rodriguez pitched six scoreless innings and three relievers completed a three-hitter in a 2-0 win over Puerto Rico in Miami on Saturday.

Carlos Santana homered in the fifth and Francisco Pena knocked in an insurance run with a single in the eighth for the Dominicans.

Both teams had already qualified for the semifinals in San Francisco, and were playing for seedings.

Puerto Rico will face two-time defending champion Japan on Sunday night, and the undefeated Dominicans play the surprising Netherlands on Monday night.

The winners advance to Tuesday's title game.

As the Mets turn. At the rate the New York Mets are going through third sackers, Tim Teufel may have to move over from the hot corner's coaching box to play the position again.

Justin Turner, the Metropolitans' best option to replace injured David Wright at third, left Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Miami Marlins in Port St. Lucie, Fla., after spraining his right ankle in the fourth inning attempting a throw.

Wright has a left intercostal muscle strain and is expected to rest for up to four days before he is reevaluated. Mets manager Terry Collins said Zach Lutz, the last third baseman left on the 40-man roster, will start against the Atlanta Braves on Sunday.

Teufel had better oil his glove.

Looks as if Red Sox pitcher Alfredo Aceves is still feeling a bit feisty despite his one-fall loss to Phillies farmhand Tyson Gillies in the Mexico-Canada brawl at the WBC last week.

The righthander hit Rays second baseman Sean Rodriguez - who had knocked his third home run of spring training off Aceves in the third - when he came to bat in the fifth inning of Boston's 9-2 win over Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Rodriguez went to first, but he and Aceves exchanged words, and - ding, ding! - benches emptied.

Aceves remained upright this time, maybe because Rodriguez was held back as the pair debated, loudly.

"When we play Boston [next,] I guess it just keeps things a little fired up between us - which is cool," said Rodriguez, showing his mastery of paradox.