Jean Segura Makes Most Of Second Chance

MIAMI—Jean Segura, who went 3-for-6 with two doubles and three RBIs in Sunday’s 10-3 win over Colombia, was not on the Dominican Republic’s original roster for the World Baseball Classic.

Moises Alou, who is in charge of putting together the Dominican roster for the defending WBC champs, had delivered the bad news to Segura.

“I understood,” said Segura, whose three-run double in the 11th inning helped break Sunday’s game wide open. “We have so many stars.

”But I told Moises, ‘If you need me, I’m here.'”

As it turns out, Segura was needed. Hanley Ramirez had to back out of his commitment to the team due to a shoulder injury, and Dominican manager Tony Pena rested starting shortstop Jose Reyes on Sunday, giving Segura a shot as the leadoff batter.

The Mariners shortstop came through, but said he was nervous because of how passionate the Dominican fans are and his desire not to let them down.

He didn’t.

“I think we have the best fans in the world,” Segura said. “I’m proud to be a Dominican.”

Pena called the Dominican fans “the 10th man” of the program.

“Right now,” Pena said after the game, “they are feeling the same happiness we are feeling.”

With the Dominicans earning an 11-0 record since the start of the 2013 WBC, Segura said getting the chance to put his country’s jersey on is an honor.

“This is the biggest thing to happen to me in my career,” Segura said. “Not just for me, but for the 10 million people back in the Dominican.”

NEWS AND NOTES

• Adrian Beltre, who has 2,942 hits in his stellar 19-year MLB career, cannot crack the stacked DR lineup.

The 37-year-old is stuck behind Manny Machado, 24, who had a key home run against the U.S. on Saturday and an RBI double against Colombia on Sunday. He also made numerous web gems all weekend.

Expect more of Machado in the lineup once the second round begins in San Diego.

“It’s going to be hard to take out Machado,” Pena said of the player born in Miami-Dade County but who has Dominican ancestry. “He’s one of the best players in the game. He told me last year that he was going to play in the Classic, and he has prepared himself well.”

• By virtue of its win over Canada on Saturday, Colombia finished in third place in Pool C and—for the first time—automatically qualifies for the next WBC, to be held in 2021.

“We’re now getting recognition from the rest of the world,” Colombia manager Luis Urueta said. “But we’ve had a pro league in Colombia for the past 15-20 years. We have players signed (by MLB organizations) every year. We have players make the majors every year. We’ve earned respect.”

• Juan Marichal, a 10-time MLB All-Star whose 243 wins are still a record for a Dominican-born hurler, threw out the first pitch. His leg kick wasn’t nearly as high as it was in his day, but, then again, Marichal is 79.

• Urueta said he cried when talking to his team after Sunday’s loss. “I’m very proud to be part of this team,” Urueta said.

• Retired slugger David “Big Papi” Ortiz, who was part of the Dominican team that won the 2013 WBC, was in the D.R. dugout on Sunday as a fan. He was wearing jeans and a D.R. jersey.