The Los Angeles Dodgers are well represented in the World Baseball Classic with 10 players participating in the international tournament, including seven from their 40-man roster, and a few of them made an impact for their country on Thursday.
So far, the teams in Pools C and D, which include Team USA, Canada, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, have yet to play an official game and have thus far just participated in exhibitions against Major League clubs.
But for the teams in Pools A and B, their games are already underway. Team Panama faced Team Cuba on Thursday night into Friday morning, and Dodgers prospect Jose Ramos made himself known in the game.
The Dodgers prospect went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored while batting fourth for Panama. He also showed off his arm strength with a throw to the plate that prevented a run from scoring.
Unfortunately for Ramos, his contributions were not enough as Cuba defeated Panama 13-4 with a comeback victory.
Former Dodgers shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena also showed up for Cuba, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Arruebarrena appeared in 22 games for L.A. during the 2014 season after being signed as an international prospect, and that was his only taste of Major League Baseball.
As for the exhibition games, Team USA faced off against the Los Angeles Angels with a 6-0 victory, backed by a grand slam from Nolan Arenado off former Dodgers pitcher Tyler Anderson.
Mookie Betts and Will Smith both started for USA and each turned in a productive game. Betts went 2-for-2 with a run scored while playing second base, and Smith went 1-for-2 with an RBI and walk as the catcher.
Team Mexico faced the Colorado Rockies and picked up an 11-1 win. Austin Barnes entered the game as a pinch hitter and ended up going 0-for-1 with a walk and RBI.
Dodgers players to appear in World Baseball Classic game on Thursday
Freddie Freeman went hitless in three at-bats for Team Canada in their 5-3 loss to the Seattle Mariners and Trayce Thompson struck out three times in his three plate appearances for Great Britain in their 8-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals.
David Peralta went 0-for-1 after entering the game as a defensive replacement for Team Venezuela in their 6-4 victory over the New York Mets.
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