Three Phillies played big roles in the World Baseball Classic

By: Matt Alberston, Historical Columnist

I'm not sure about you the reader, but I absolutely loved this year's World Baseball Classic. It was the first time I really paid attention to the tournament in detail and appreciated the passion and international atmostphere at each game demonstrated by both the fans and the athletes.

The overall quality of play was terrific as well.  Titilating storylines evolved as the tournament progressed. Israel came out of nowhere and began the tournament 4-0 before being eliminated in the second round. Japan looked like a juggernaut again, rolling to a 6-0 mark before losing to an underdog United States team in the semifinal. Puerto Rico scored 55 runs on the way to an undefeated record, before suffering a shutout loss in an 8-0 United States triumph in the WBC final. I truly hope that the WBC continues in the near future, even with the news that baseball will return to the Olympics.

A total of eight Phillies (two position players and six pitchers) represented their home nations in the 2017 World Baseball Classic: Odubel Herrera and Edubray Ramos (Venezuela), Hector Neris (Dominican Republic), Pat Neshek (United States), Jorge Alfaro (Columbia), Nick Pivetta (Canada), Nick Fanti (Italy), and Kenny Koplove (Israel). Neither Ramos nor Koplove appeared in competition. 

Neshek, Neris and Alfaro were the top three performers for the club. Columbia pushed eventual tournament champion United States to extra innings before losing in the bottom of the 10th. Alfaro played well in his short WBC stint, going 3 for 12 (.250 batting average) with one home run. The 23-year-old prospect — and No. 76 overall prospect in baseball according to MLBPipeline.com — played a key role in Columbia's game against the Domincan Republic. In the sixth inning, Alfaro threw out the D.R.'s Gregory Polanco at second and in the eighth inning, he launched a Fernando Rodney change up deep into the Miami night, tying the game. Columbia ultimately lost in the 11th when the Domincan's rattled off seven runs, winning 10-3. 

Neris pitched in three games for the Dominican Republic and posted a 2.70 ERA in 3.1 innings pitched. He also surrendered a home run. 

Neshek pitched well in relief for a very deep United States team that included relievers Mark Melancon, Tyler Clippard, Luke Gregerson and 2016 postseason phenom Andrew Miller. Neshak was used regularly, pitching in five games, posting a perfect 0.00 ERA and gave up a mere four hits in five innings of work, including four strikeouts and one walk. He also picked up the win in a 4-2 come from behind victory over Venezuela. But arguably his greatest moment came in the bottom of the 8th inning in the semifinal against Japan. 

With the United States leading undefeated Japan 2-1, Seiichi Uchikawa singled and Tesuto Yamada sacrificed. After a strikeout, Melancon walked Norichika Aoki. U.S. manager Jim Leyland replaced Melancon with Pat Neshek to face Yoshitomo Tsutsugoh with two men on. Neshek led the count 2-1 when Tsutsugoh seemingly crushed a 69 mph change up that lined itself to Andrew McCutchen's glove. It was arguably the most important out record in United States baseball history to that point and eliminated the scoring threat. 

The United States went on to win the game and advanced to the championship game against Puerto Rico. Neshek entered the game in the eighth inning. He gave up a single to Yadier Molina to open the frame but threw an 0-2 slider to Javier Baez, who grounded into a double play. After walking Eddie Rosario, Neshek struck out Kennys Vargas to end the inning.

The Phillies reliever was replaced by Luke Gregerson in the ninth inning, who made quick work of the Dominican lineup. During the celebration, Neshek trotted onto the field with a bald eagle statue and placed it on the pitcher's mound as the United States celebrated its first ever World Baseball Classic championship.