Michael Wielansky (right) congratulates Spencer Horwitz (4) and Noah Mendlinger after scoring for Israel in the eighth inning of a 3-1 win over Nicaragua at the World Baseball Classic, Sunday March 12, 2023, at Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

MIAMI (AP) — Garrett Stubbs scored a two-run brace to cap a three-run brace late in the eighth inning as Israel cruised to a 3-1 win over Nicaragua on Sunday in their World Classic debut. baseball. .

Stubbs had two of Israel’s seven hits. His double loaded with goals and two strikeouts came against Jonathan Loaisiga, the New York Yankees reliever and by far the best pitcher in the Nicaraguan bullpen.

Spencer Horwitz and Noah Mendlinger scored after Stubbs’ shot bounced off the left field wall at LoanDepot Park. Horwitz had tied the score moments before with a single run.

“That’s what I expect from this team, to play all 27 outs and fight to the last,” said Israeli coach Ian Kinsler, a former Texas Rangers infielder.

Reliever Richard Bleier took credit for the win by prescribing a pair of strikeouts to cover an inning.

Nicaragua took a 1-0 lead in the fifth when Steven Leyton’s brace slammed into Sandy Bermúdez. They had just lost to Puerto Rico on their debut and found themselves 0-2 in the Clásico.

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