Robinson Cano (above) was named the MVP.
ALL SMILES: Jose Reyes celebrates after hitting a triple in the seventh inning of the Dominican Republic’s 3-0 victory over Puerto Rico in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic. Robinson Cano (inset) was named the MVP. (Getty Images; Reuters (inset))
SAN FRANCISCO — Jose Reyes and Robinson Cano wanted to show the world what baseball in the Dominican Republic is all about. It’s about passion and perfection.
The dominating Dominicans ran the table, winning their first World Baseball Classic with a 3-0 victory over Puerto Rico last night at a wet and wild AT&T Park, making the Dominicans a perfect 8-0 in the tournament. Three times the Dominican Republic beat Puerto Rico.
No team had ever before put up a perfect record in the Classic. Japan won the first two WBCs.
When it was over, after Fernando Rodney struck out Luis Figueroa for the final out, the players waved small Dominican flags and their lucky plantain to the 35,703 fans.
Cano was named MVP, his third MVP Award of this WBC, and Reyes again was the igniter of the Dominican offense.
“Tonight we’re going to celebrate,’’ Cano said. “Tomorrow we’re going to celebrate and Thursday we will go back to spring training.’’
Cano was 3-for-40 last year in the playoffs for the Yankees. In this tournament he batted .469, setting a WBC record with 15 hits.
“This win is all about the Dominican Republic and we wanted to show the world what Dominican baseball is all about,’’ said Reyes, who received a congratulatory call from Danilo Medina, the president of the country. “This is an unforgettable moment, one of the greatest moments of my career and my life.’’
Reyes drilled a leadoff double in the bottom of the first high off the right-field wall. With one out, Cano was intentionally walked. Reyes’ Toronto teammate Edwin Encarnacion’s doubled to score two runs. Reyes also tripled in the seventh.
“When I hit that double in the first it was for the whole Dominican Republic,’’ Reyes said.
The Dominicans believed in the Power of the Plantain and the power arms in the bullpen. The bullpen did not allow a run over the final 25 2/3 innings and Rodney, who had his lucky plantain with him the last two games, closed out another victory, his seventh save.
“It goes back to the plantain,’’ Rodney said of life in the Dominican Republic. “You know what, it’s where we eat the most plantains and we produce the greatest number of ballplayers.’’
For Reyes, after a year of losing with the Marlins and the trade to Toronto, the WBC was a blessing.
“This tournament really helped me,’’ Reyes told the Post. “The winning gets you ready for the season. It’s going to be fun playing in the AL East, playing against the Yankees, Rays, Red Sox and Orioles. This is preparing me for that.’’
On a day Derek Jeter’s surgically repaired aching left ankle forced him to be scratched from the Yankees lineup, Reyes was running around in the rain like a kid, diving into bases and fist-pumping. There’s a new shortstop sheriff in the AL East. Reyes is baseball’s version of Red Bull.
“Jose is amazing,’’ Dominican Republic general manager Moises Alou said. “I don’t have enough words to describe him. I really love that guy.’’
Jeter, 38, has been The Shortstop in the AL East for so long. Now Reyes, 29, is determined to make his mark. His respect for Jeter is immense. He said he will learn just by watching the Yankees captain. Jeter, though, has a long way to go before he is completely healthy again.
Reliever Octavio Dotel, also a former Met, said having the combination of the ex-Met Reyes and the Yankees’ Cano was amazing.
“They are unbelievable players,’’ he said. “I would love to have them on my team in Detroit, the people in Toronto and the people in New York have got to be excited to watch those two guys play.’’
The Dominicans played with love and passion for the game and their manager Tony Pena, the Yankees bench coach, did a brilliant job.
“This ballclub is about emotion,’’ Pena said.
The World Baseball Classic is a different version of baseball. It’s all about having fun. The Dominican players did that from start to undefeated finish with Reyes and Cano leading the way.