Dominican Republic Routs Israel in World Baseball Classic

Powerful Dominican lineup overpowers Israel's inexperienced pitching

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Dominican Republic continued its dominant run in the World Baseball Classic, routing Israel 12-2 in a game that ended early due to the mercy rule. The Dominican lineup, led by stars like Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., overwhelmed Israel's starting pitcher Ryan Prager, who struggled with his command and was unable to slow down the relentless Dominican offense.

Why it matters

The lopsided victory further cements the Dominican Republic's status as a tournament favorite, showcasing the depth and talent of their roster. For Israel, the loss highlights the challenges they face as a relative newcomer to the international baseball scene, needing to develop more pitching depth to compete with powerhouses like the Dominican Republic.

The details

The Dominican Republic jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs in the first inning off Prager. They continued to pour it on, adding two more runs in the third and five in the fourth to invoke the mercy rule. Ketel Marte had a big game for the Dominicans, hitting a home run and driving in three runs. Brayan Bello was dominant on the mound for the Dominican Republic, allowing just two runs over six innings of work.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 9, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
  • The mercy rule was invoked in the 7th inning, ending the game early.

The players

Brayan Bello

The starting pitcher for the Dominican Republic, who pitched six strong innings and allowed just two runs.

Ketel Marte

A dynamic hitter for the Dominican Republic who hit a home run and drove in three runs.

Ryan Prager

The starting pitcher for Israel, who struggled with his command and was unable to slow down the powerful Dominican lineup.

Juan Soto

A star player for the Dominican Republic, known for his excellent on-base skills.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Another star player for the Dominican Republic, who is part of their potent lineup.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had to come out strong against Israel, and our guys did a great job of setting the tone early. When our lineup is clicking like this, it's tough for any team to slow us down.”

— Juan Soto (Dominican Republic team statement)

“Ryan did his best, but the Dominican hitters were just too much for him today. We'll regroup and look to bounce back in our next game.”

— Israel manager (Israel team statement)

What’s next

The Dominican Republic will look to continue their dominant run in the World Baseball Classic, while Israel will aim to learn from this experience and develop their pitching staff to be more competitive against the tournament's elite teams.

The takeaway

The Dominican Republic's powerful lineup and deep pitching staff make them a clear favorite to win the World Baseball Classic, while Israel's loss highlights the challenges faced by newer baseball nations trying to compete at the highest international level.