Manager Tony Pena has announced that Lorenzo Barcelo, the star pitcher for the Aguilas Cibaenas, will start the game today, Tuesday 5 March in Clearwater, Florida. Pena was on the field at Steinbrenner Stadium to lead the first team practice of the group that will represent the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Pena said that he would use one other pitcher from his bullpen but that the other pitchers he would use would be supplied by the Philadelphia Phillies staff. He told reporters: “We can’t use our pitchers in the two practice games on Tuesday and Wednesday (5 and 6 March) because next weekend we will play the first round of the Classic and we need for all of them (the pitchers) to be ready to throw.” Because of this, the Phillies will supply pitchers to throw seven of the nine innings.
Regarding Wednesday’s game with the New York Yankees in Steinbrenner Field, Pena said that he does not know who will start the game but that once more they will ask the rival team to loan them some pitchers. He said that Edinson Volquez would throw for the Dominican team in the first game of the Classic when they face the very strong team from Venezuela in the Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Samuel Deduno will go against Spain and lefty Wandy Rodriguez will start against Puerto Rico on Sunday 10 March. Finally he noted that the team is extraordinarily blessed with talent and the likes of Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez and Erick Aybar will all get a chance to play.