Team Dominican Republic fans celebrate 10-run win over Team Israel in World Baseball Classic: "Bats finally woke up" "We needed that" 

The World Baseball Classic is coming down to the wire in Pool D as Team Dominican Republic hung a second-straight 10-0 loss to Team Israel on Tuesday night and set up a critical showdown with Puerto Rico on Wednesday night in Miami.

The Dominican Republic overcame a slow start, scoring just three runs over the game's first five innings, but then exploded for seven points over the sixth and seventh innings to send Israel to a Mercy Rule eight-inning loss for the second night in a row.

The 10 runs scored by the Dominican Republic are more than the team scored in the team's first two World Baseball Classic games -- a 5-1 loss to Venezuela and a 6-1 win over Nicaragua.

Manny Machado recovered from a first-inning strikeout delivered by 19-year-old Israel starting pitcher Jacob Steinmetz to launch a 437-foot home run in his next at bat. Machado logged three of the Dominican Republic's 10 RBIs.

The Dominican Republic's win clinched Pool D for Venezuela, which has outperformed pre-tournament prognostications to lead the pool with an undefeated record through three games. Venezuela clinching the group means that the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico's game on Wednesday will send the winner to the knockout round, with the losing team joining Israel on the way back home.

After collecting their first win in World Baseball Classic play Sunday against Team Nicaragua, Israel took yet another loss squarely on the chin. Israel claimed one hit against the Dominican Republic, a single off the bat of Spencer Horwitz, after not managing a single baserunner the night before versus Puerto Rico.

Of course, Puerto Rico fans wasted no time in throwing some shade at the Dominican Republic for allowing a hit in their 10-run win over Israel, while Puerto Rico pitchers claimed an unofficial (due to the game being ended after eight innings) perfect game. Viva rivalry!

World Baseball Classic pool play comes to a close Wednesday night

Robinson Cano #24 hugs Jean Segura #2 of The Dominican Republic after his walk off hit to end the game against Israel

The final games of pool play will take place on Wednesday, when the last teams to qualify for the knockout round will be determined. The Dominican Republic/Puerto Rico contest is the lone head-to-head elimination game among the five games to take place on Wednesday. The first pitch is scheduled to take place at 7:00 pm Miami time (Eastern Daylight Time) at LoanDepot Park.