MIAMI, March 13 (UPI) -- David Wright had five RBI and Gio Gonzalez provided five strong innings Tuesday to lift the United States over Puerto Rico 7-1 in the World Baseball Classic.
Wright went 2-for-5, including a bases-clearing double in the eighth inning to ice the victory for Team USA, which now advances to take on the Dominican Republic Thursday with a chance to secure a spot in the championship round.
Gonzalez (1-0) earned the victory, allowing three hits while striking out five.
Ryan Braun and Jimmy Rollins each supplied two hits with two runs scored, while Adam Jones and Joe Mauer contributed one RBI apiece for the American squad.
Mario Santiago (0-1) was tagged for three runs on five hits over 4 1/3 innings, absorbing the loss.
Angel Pagan provided the only RBI for Puerto Rico, which will face Italy in an elimination game Wednesday.
