Baseball fans stunned as Team Puerto Rico eliminates Team Dominican Republic from World Baseball Classic: "That was your Dominican Super Team?" 

World Baseball Classic pre-tournament favorite Team Dominican Republic was eliminated from tournament play Wednesday night as Team Puerto Rico claimed a 5-2 win in the Pool D finale at Loan Depot Park in Miami, Fla.

The Dominican Republic became the casualty in the "Group of Death" as an opening-game loss to eventual pool champion Venezuela spelled doom for the +210 betting favorite, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.

Venezuela emerged from pool play with a perfect 4-0 record, leaving Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic to fight for the pool's final knockout round berth as each entered Wednesday with identical 2-1 records.

Puerto Rico blew open a scoreless game with a four-run third inning, touched off by Christian Vasquez's 384-foot home run to left field. The Dominican Republic never recovered from the outburst, managing just lone runs in the third and fifth innings.

A total of eight Puerto Rico pitchers kept the mighty bats of the Dominican Republic at bay, including closer Edwin Diaz, who entered the field to his traditional theme song of "Narco" by Timmy Trumpet before striking out the side to finish off the Dominicans' appearance in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

The Dominican Republic's early exit was a stunner as most prognosticators figured the team would at least make it to the knockout rounds, if not win the pool and the entire tournament. Venezuela had +1000 to win it all entering the tournament, Puerto Rico was +1200.

However, tragedy struck in Puerto Rico's victory celebration as closer Edwin Diaz appeared to suffer a knee injury while being mobbed by his teammates. The New York Mets superstar had to be carted off the field.

Puerto Rico to face Mexico in World Baseball Classic quarterfinals on Saturday

Puerto Rico will face Mexico in the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals on Saturday

As they await word on the health of Diaz, Puerto Rico must not collect themselves and prepare for Team Mexico in a quarterfinal knockout round matchup at 7 p.m. local time in Miami.

Mexico won Pool C with a 3-1 record that included an impressive 11-5 victory against defending World Baseball Classic champions Team USA on Sunday night. Mexico rebounded from a 5-4 opening-game loss against Colombia last Saturday to win their next three games and claim the pool title.

The winner of the Puerto Rico/Mexico matchup will advance to the semifinal round, to be played against either Team Italy or Team Japan on Monday. The World Baseball Classic championship game is scheduled for next Tuesday.