Puerto Rico embarrasses Team USA

MIAMI - Jake Peavy lasted only 2 innings, and in the wake of a Classic blowout, Team USA could soon be gone, too.

Thanks to an embarrassing 11-1 loss to Puerto Rico on Saturday that was stopped early because of the mercy rule, the Americans are once again on the ropes in round two of the World Baseball Classic.

Carlos Beltran and Felipe Lopez homered, and Puerto Rico rocked Peavy for 6 runs to send the U.S. team into the loser's bracket. The Americans face the Netherlands in an elimination game tonight. Puerto Rico plays Venezuela on Monday.

"Everybody is embarrassed," shortstop Derek Jeter said. "But 2-1 or 11-1, we're still in the same position. You can't sit around and hang your head too long."

Javier Vazquez (2-0) allowed 1 run in 5 innings for Puerto Rico, which remained unbeaten through four games. Ivan Rodriguez, playing in Miami for the first time since he helped the Marlins win the 2003 World Series, went 3-for-4 with 2 doubles and an RBI to hike his WBC batting average to .600 (9-for-15).

Adding embarrassment to an ugly U.S. performance, the game ended in the seventh inning because of the tournament's 10-run rule.

Jeter, Chipper Jones and Kevin Youklis went a combined 0-for-9 batting 2-3-4 for Team USA, and Mark DeRosa went 0-for-3 with 2 strikeouts while stranding five runners.

DeRosa was a late fill-in for reigning AL MVP Dustin Pedroia, who was placed on the disabled list because of a strained muscle on his left side.

Venezuela 3, Netherlands 1: Miguel Cabrera and Jose Lopez each had solo home runs to power Venezuela past the Netherlands in the second round in Miami.