MIAMI (DA) — Down to its final strike, the Netherlands turned defeat into a 4-3 win Saturday when Ozzie Albies launched a three-run walk-off home run in the ninth inning to beat Nicaragua in Pool D.
The homer was the first walk-off home run in World Baseball Classic history and the 10th walk-off finish overall in the tournament. It also gave the Kingdom its fourth walk-off win in WBC play, the most of any nation.
Albies finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs and the game-winning swing. His ninth-inning shot erased a 3-1 deficit after Nicaragua had moved in front on Jet Downs’ two-run homer in the top of the eighth.
The Dutch improved to 1-1 in Pool D, while Nicaragua dropped to 0-2.
The Netherlands collected 10 hits but went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base. Xander Bogaerts went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, Ceddanne Rafaela added two hits and a run, and Druw Jones finished 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
Jaitoine Kelly, making his first career World Baseball Classic start, gave the Netherlands two scoreless innings. He allowed one hit, walked one and struck out three.
Kevin Kelly followed with 2 1/3 innings and allowed one run. Derek West added 2 2/3 scoreless innings, and Lars Huijer earned the win after working the final two innings.
Nicaragua finished with nine hits and five walks but stranded 14 runners. Munguia went 3-for-4 with a walk, Downs drove in two runs, and Cheslor Cuthbert added an RBI.
The Dutch scored first in the third inning, Nicaragua answered in the fifth and then took a 3-1 lead in the eighth before Albies delivered the historic finish in the ninth.
Next for the Netherlands is a Pool D matchup against the Dominican Republic on Sunday at 12:08 p.m. ET. Right-hander Anji Fransen, 24, is set to make his first career World Baseball Classic start after previously pitching one inning in relief during the 2023 tournament.