Baseball-Puerto Rico enjoy rare day off before WBC final

By Larry Fine

SAN FRANCISCO, March 18 (Reuters) - After ousting two-time defending champions Japan to reach the World Baseball Classic final, the Puerto Rico team got to enjoy a tension-free Monday ahead of Tuesday's title game.

"It's going to be a relaxing period for them, maybe more of a mental rest than a physical rest," manager Edwin Rodriguez said about his players, who just navigated a stretch of five games in six days including a cross-country trip from Miami.

The Puerto Ricans defeated Japan 3-1 in their semi-final on Sunday and will play either Dominican Republic or Netherlands for the championship of baseball's top international tournament.

"Last night we celebrated," Rodriguez said. "Today we're going to get together and we're going to celebrate with a dinner together.

"But we need to keep moving ahead and concentrate. Right after we had finished the game last night, 45 minutes later, we were getting together and coming up with strategies."

Having knocked out Venezuela in the first round and the U.S. team in the second round, the tournament has been a rousing success for Puerto Rico, but the manager said his players want more.

"The boys, having come to this point, weren't satisfied with what we have accomplished. We still have one more step to go. We are here and we need to finish what we started.

"The boys are very aware that this is not just a championship, (not) just a sports game. We know what this means for the Puerto Rican people beyond the sports aspect and we're accomplishing that. You can feel that."

Scheduled to start on the mound in the title game for Puerto Rico is Giancarlo Alvarado, who has pitched the last three seasons in Japan.

"Honestly, I've been waiting for this for many years. This is an opportunity to open up the series and to close it off for Puerto Rico. I'm really grateful," said Alvarado, the winning pitcher in the team's opening WBC game against Spain.

"It is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. I am so proud just to be with this team. For me, this is a big league team.

"I don't feel no pressure. Nobody thought that we were going to be here, and here we are."

(Editing by Julian linden)

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