World Baseball Classic: Pool D - Dominican Republic vs Venezuela
Wednesday, 11 March, 2026
Miami, Florida, USA
LoanDepot Park
Team Dominican Republic
Sandy Alcantara
Postgame Press Conference
Dominican Republic 7, Venezuela 5
Q. Hello, Sandy. Your performance in three innings, three runs, sinker, fast balls -- you were not able to control the pitches very well today. Why do you think that failed in the attack plan or execution plan?
SANDY ALCANTARA: First of all, I have to thank God for this opportunity to go out and be healthy. I was not consistent with my sinker, but I tried to do my best outside on the mound, and we won the game.
Q. Sandy, three years ago at this stadium, you pitched against Venezuela, but we lost at that time. But today we won. Almost the same situation. Tell us about that experience, the difference between that time and today and about your performance today.
SANDY ALCANTARA: My performance today was not my best, three runs in three innings. I was not consistent attacking the hitters. The Venezuelan hitters were very, very aggressive, especially Arraez. He knows me very well. The game was very good, and the fans enjoyed it.
In the previous Classic, we did our best. We didn't win, but it was a beautiful experience. But today we won the bottom.
Q. There was a key moment in the game, the lower part of the third inning. You had some troubles, and the game was four to three. We thought that you would be removed. I wanted to know, how were you able to solve that situation and relieve yourself?
SANDY ALCANATRA: I think the self-control. This is not the first time that I'm in trouble, and I have faith, so many troublesome problems, but I know how to control myself. I trust my pitches.
They were very aggressive in that situation. I was not consistent attacking the strike zone, but I believed in myself, and we were able to solve that problem.
Q. Hi, Sandy. Since you're kind of a neutral third party here, who do you think does the best home run track on Team Dominican and why?
SANDY ALCANTARA: I think Tatis because Vladdy was telling me that after Tatis got a strikeout, he was so mad that he was hitting the helmet on the dirt.
But Vladdy told me that he doesn't want to miss that pitch over there. And you could see that Tatis was very aggressive on that at-bat, and he hit a homer, so we got very excited about it.
Q. How much do you enjoy just sort of them celebrating in that way, the way you take your time rounding the bases and enjoy all of these home runs in this tournament?
SANDY ALCANTARA: Because we're Dominican, so that came from inside us, you know? So I think that we have that energy inside. So we always celebrate like we're happy men.
Q. According to the rotation, you were the fourth pitcher, and there are three games, quarter, semifinal, and final. Following that rotation, maybe you won't open another game, but I would like to know your availability to continue supporting the team as a reliever maybe. Are you available to be ready with the team?
SANDY ALCANTARA: Of course. I have to keep on practicing with the team. We have training tomorrow to prepare ourselves for Friday, to do our best. I don't know in what kind of situation they will let me, but I'm available to open or to relieve. You name it.
We are here for one cause, to represent our country, the Dominican Republic. If I have to close or relieve, I'm here.
Q. I saw the video. What does that represent for Sandy Alcantra, the country, family, all these emotions? You shared that. And representing our country once again in this Classic.
SANDY ALCANTARA: These are some spikes that were manufactured for me. That was a surprise. I was kind of sad because it was the wrong size, so I had to go home and get another pair of spikes. But I'm very happy for that surprise. It means a lot to me because it has the face of my mom who died some years ago, my daughter, where I was born, where I was raised and grew, you know? Great job of the painter, by the way. But a little sad because I couldn't wear them.
Q. Sandy, in the second part of the year, we saw a totally different Sandy Alcantra, activity of 3.6, et cetera. You had to adapt yourself with the surgery?
SANDY ALCANTARA: Everything is based on not losing your faith. I have to thank God always. The start of the season was not the best one, bad times, negative moments, but I believed in myself, and I was positive because I knew that eventually things would be better. I always trusted God, and you have seen the second part of the season was excellent.
(FastScripts by ASAP Sports)
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports164914-1-2239 2026-03-12 04:33:00 GMT
