LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- It\'s likely Disney\'s Wide World of Sports, spring home of the Atlanta Braves, was never as loud as it was on this sunny, breezy, picture-perfect Tuesday afternoon.
The rivalry between the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, usually saved exclusively for the Carribean World Series, was alive and well in Lake Buena Vista on Tuesday, as the Dominicans topped Venezuela, 11-5, to take the first of six games that will be played within Pool D of the World Baseball Classic.
The fans were seemingly split 50-50 between their allegiances to their native countries. Equally enthusiastic, Dominican and Venezuelan fans proudly waved their respective flags and cheered loudly throughout the contest, whether it was for home runs, groundouts or fly balls.
For natives of Latin countries, this method of baseball fandom is built on tradition.
"The atmosphere out there is something that pretty much every Latin person has it going on in their blood," erstwhile Red Sox slugger David Ortiz said. "Everybody has a lot of passion for the baseball game. That\'s something that we live day-by-day. And everybody -- every single player, the coaches, everybody that is involved in the game -- put a lot into it."
Venezuela starting pitcher Johan Santana agreed.
"In our countries, fans go beyond the game," he said. "It\'s not just about being a fan. It\'s about passion. It\'s about loving the game. I think when it comes down to that in the Latin countries, I think we do a pretty good job.
"It\'s nothing against anybody. I think American fans are great, too. It\'s just that it\'s a different feeling when you play, especially when you play and represent your country."
Ortiz carries with him a hulking presence, even before he steps to the plate. Known as "Big Papi" to the Red Sox Nation, his wide smile and enthusiasm for the game are well-known throughout the myriad of regions that house Major League fans. He made the Dominican fans proud on Tuesday, when he went deep twice in what turned out to be a lopsided win.
Ortiz led off the second frame with a solo homer off Santana, and added a second homer in the ninth, a two-run shot off Venezuelan left-hander Carlos Hernandez to ice the game.
Adrian Beltre also recorded a multihomer game. He knocked a three-run blast off Carlos Zambrano to contribute to a four-run fifth frame, and he also went deep off Jorge Julio in the ninth, giving the Dominicans a five-run advantage.
Reigning American League Cy Young Award-winner Bartolo Colon allowed four hits over three scoreless frames, walking one and striking out two. Once Colon departed, the Venezuelans chipped away at the Dominican lead, plating five runs from the fourth through the seventh, including a two-run shot by Miguel Cabera off Miguel Batista in the fifth and a solo homer by Edgardo Alfonzo, also off Batista.
Anyone who views these games as meaningless exhibitions has yet to see the expression of determination on the players\' faces. Regardless of how little these matchups count in the standings, there is something even more important on the line: pride.
The Dominican Republic and Venezuela have a history. The two teams meet in the Caribbean World Series, and this winter, Venezuela seemed to have the Dominicans\' number.
Venezuela beat the Dominican twice in the Caribbean World Series, winning both times in a round-robin format. Venezuela went 6-0 in the tournament, while the Dominican Republic went 4-2.
The players involved in the World Baseball Classic do not view this as a rematch from what happened over the winter, or for a way for the Dominicans to exact revenge on Venezuela. But they do understand why the fans might see it that way.
"Most of the players here were not involved in the Caribbean Series," Dominican manager Manny Acta said. "That was something that basically the fans were the ones that were really involved in that, took it personal. We were going to try to beat whoever we faced, whether they speak English, Spanish or Italian."
Added Ortiz: "We\'ve got a group of guys that are very professional in what they\'re doing. Nobody\'s thinking about what happened in the Caribbean Series."
But they are thinking about what happened on Tuesday, and so far, it\'s advantage: Dominican.', tagline: 'Alyson Footer is a reporter for MLB.com.', summary: null, article_photo: { caption: 'Dominican David Ortiz crushes a second-inning home run against Venezuela.', credit: 'Preston C. Mack/MLB.com', path: '/images/2006/03/07/d6H7eQVZ.jpg' }, sub_headline: 'Ortiz, Beltre each hit two out in Pool D rivalry game', alt_headline: 'Dominicans ride homers in Classic opener', related_links: null, headline: 'Dominicans ride homers in opener' }