LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The Dominicans topped Team Puerto Rico a total of three times; once in pool play, once in the second round and again on Tuesday night. It was the Dominican Republic's first-ever World Baseball Classic championship game at rain-drenched AT&T Park in San Francisco.

Dominican starter Samuel Deduno delivered five scoreless innings in the 3-0 win, allowing only two Puerto Rican hits while fanning five. Deduno yielded one earned run in 13 World Baseball Classic innings. Deduno was followed by Dominican relievers Octavio Dotel, Pedro Strop, Santiago Casilla and Fernando Rodney. All contributed scoreless frames.

Edwin Encarnacion played the biggest role on offense in the championship game, smacking a tone-setting two-run double in the bottom of the first inning after Team Puerto Rico decided to intentionally walk the batter in front of him, Robinson Cano. Cano was 0-for-3 on the night but had a massively productive tournament.

Team Japan was crowned WBC champion in 2006 and 2009 - but lost in the semifinals this year.

Dominicans took the opportunity for rejoicing. Cheers of "Dominicana! Dominicana!" rang out through the rain at AT&T Park all the way to the lively streets of Santo Domingo.
 
The Dominican fans -- fanaticos, indeed -- didn't let the Bay Area's wet weather keep them from dancing in the stands, waving flags and tooting horns. Flags became make-shift ponchos.
It was fitting, too, perhaps, considering the World Series champion Giants clinched the NL pennant against the Cardinals in a downpour on this very field last fall.

Some 50,000 more supporters gathered to watch on giant televisions inside and outside of Estadio Quisqueya in the Dominican capital city.

© 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.