Julio Rodriguez’s camcorder chronicles Dominican Republic’s unbeaten run into quarters
Julio rodriguez has spent this World Baseball Classic with a camcorder close by, documenting Team Dominican Republic’s push toward a title. The camera has followed a team that opened pool play 3-0 and clinched a quarterfinal spot Monday in Miami, where Fernando Tatis Jr. powered a 10-1 win over Israel and pushed the Dominicans another step deeper into the tournament.
Julio Rodriguez and a team that keeps the moments
When he is not swinging the bat or roaming center field for Team Dominican Republic, Julio Rodriguez has been filming. Since the team gathered for the first time at the beginning of this month, his handheld camera has tracked “every step” of the national team’s quest for a World Baseball Classic title, turning into a constant presence around a roster packed with star names.
Those names have helped define why there is so much to capture. In manager Albert Pujols’ batting order, Julio Rodriguez batted seventh in the Dominican Republic’s first two games, sitting behind Fernando Tatis Jr., Ketel Marte, Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, and Junior Caminero. The lineup’s depth has shown in results: through three pool games, the Dominican Republic outscored opponents 32-2 and hit a tournament-leading nine home runs.
The run began with a 12-3 win over Nicaragua, continued with a 12-1 victory over the Netherlands in seven innings, and reached 10-1 against Israel. The pride and passion seen at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal in Santo Domingo carried over to loanDepot Park in Miami, with celebrations and dugout moments that matched the scoreboard.
Fernando Tatis Jr. lifts Dominican Republic past Israel in Miami
Monday’s clincher turned on one swing early and never let up. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a grand slam and drove in six runs as the Dominican Republic secured a quarterfinal berth with a 10-1 win over Israel in Miami. He homered in the second inning on a 78. 5 mph changeup from Ryan Prager, then added a two-run single in the seventh. Geraldo Perdomo helped set the tone by drawing a bases-loaded walk that put the Dominicans ahead.
Tatis’ six RBIs tied Adrian Gonzalez in 2009 for the second most in a World Baseball Classic game, one behind Ken Griffey Jr. ’s record from 2006. Oneil Cruz added a solo homer in the fourth inning, a 115. 9 mph drive off Zack Weiss. Israel’s lone run came on a fourth-inning homer by Spencer Horwitz against Brayan Bello, who allowed only that hit in five innings while striking out seven and walking none.
Israel’s lineup thinned quickly after the top. Horwitz and Noah Mendlinger, the top two hitters in the order, went 2-for-7 combined. The rest of the order went 0-for-22, a line that mirrored the gap on the field as the Dominican Republic’s 3-0 start held steady.
In the same group, Venezuela also moved into the quarterfinals. The Dominicans’ win clinched Venezuela’s berth, and Venezuela later beat Nicaragua 4-0 in Miami as Ronald Acuna Jr. homered and drove in two runs. Nicaragua finished 0-4 and remains winless in eight tournament games.
Venezuela-Dominican Republic on Wednesday sets the Miami quarterfinal path
Wednesday in Miami brings a matchup with consequences even after both teams have already advanced. Venezuela and the Dominican Republic entered the game unbeaten at 3-0, and the winner will take the top spot in Group D. That matters because the winner will play South Korea in a quarterfinal in Miami on Friday, while the loser will face Shohei Ohtani and Japan in Miami on Saturday.
The history between the teams sits in the background of this moment. The previous tournament ended with the Dominican Republic losing to Venezuela and failing to escape the group stage, a result the Wednesday game frames as a chance at redemption. Yet the Dominican Republic’s current run has been built less on pressure than on piling up performances, from early fireworks to late-inning insurance.
The pitching has done its share as well. Cristopher Sanchez accounts for three of the five total earned runs the Dominican Republic has allowed so far, and the bullpen has not yet been scored upon. That has left the offense free to stay aggressive, and it has created the kind of uninterrupted momentum that makes a camcorder feel necessary rather than optional.
For Julio Rodriguez, the filming is not separate from the baseball; it is part of the same record the team is writing. His camera arrived with the group at the beginning of this month, and it now shadows a club that has already secured its place in the quarterfinals. Next comes Wednesday’s showdown in Miami, where the Dominican Republic’s path will tilt toward a Friday meeting with South Korea or a Saturday date with Japan.
