EASLEY—Nine runs in the final two innings turned a 5-4 squeaker into a 14-4 blowout as the Dominican Republic topped Canada on Field Three of the J.B. “Red” Owens Recreation Complex.

The Dominican Republic moves to 2-0 in the International Pool, and will square off against Mexico, 1-0, 4 p.m. Friday on Field One.

Canada drops to 0-1 in the International Pool, and will play Germany, 0-1, 7:30 p.m. on Field Three.

Neither team scored in the first two innings, but in the third inning both teams put points on the scoreboard.

In the top of the inning, the Dominican Republic’s Franyelyn Diaz hit a one-out single to start the rally. Manuel Tejada singled, then both runners advance bases on an error. Edison Flete then singled to centerfield, driving both runners in.

Canada answered in the bottom of the inning. Cal McNeil opened the inning with a single. He was sent to third base by a double by Matthew Brogan. Jeff Conn was intentionally walked, to load up the bases and set up a force play at every bag.

Jonathan Boutilier then drew a walk, sending McNeil in from third base.

Later in the inning, Brogan scored on a sacrifice fly by Kenny Routledge. Conn tried to score on the play, but was thrown out at home, leaving the game tied 2-2 at the end of three innings.

Each team added another run in the fourth inning. In the top of the inning. Jean Carlos Marmol opened the inning with a single. Winston Contreras and Juan Burgos each drew walks to load the bases. Odalis Jimenez came in as a pinch runner for Burgos.

The bases were only loaded briefly, as Marmol was picked off at third base by Canadian pitcher Nathan Brewer.

Victor Pena then reached first to load the bases again. Contreras scored on pop fly by Diaz, giving the Dominican Republic a 3-2 lead.

Canada answered in the bottom of the inning when B.J. Barrett doubled, then advanced to third base on a balk, and made it to home plate on a single by Matthew Brogan.

In the top of the fifth. Gilbert Jimenez hit a solo homer for the Dominican Republic. Darlin Seri doubled, then reached third on a balk. Seri scored later in the inning, giving the Dominican Republic a 5-3 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, Johnny MacLeod hit a solo home run for Canada to cut the margin back to 5-4.

In the top of the sixth, the Dominican Republic took control of the game. Juan Burgos opened the inning with a single. He advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Victor Pena reached base on an error, giving the Dominican Republic runners on the corners. Franyelyn Diaz cleared the bases with a home run, increasing the Latin America representative’s lead to 8-4.

Manuel Tajeda doubled for the Dominican Republic, then was knocked in by Edison Flete’s home run, increasing the lead to 10-4.

In the bottom of the sixth, Canada loaded the bases, but was unable to get anybody across the plate to cut into the 6-run lead.

Things got worse for the Canadian team in the top of the seventh, ad Juan Burgos and Victor Pena each reached base after being hit by a pitch. Diaz walked to load the bases. Tajeda then singled, knocking in two more runs and increasing the Dominican Republic’s lead to 12-4. Flete then hit a single that drove in Diaz. Trajeda then scored on a long fly hit by Gilbert Jimenez, giving the Dominican Republic a 14-4 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, Latin American pitcher Winston Contraras retired three straight Canadian batters to put the game in the record books.

Contraras was the winning pitcher. Nathan Brewer picked up the loss for Canada.