Puerto Rico dominates Israel with mercy-rule combined perfecto

Puerto Rico cruised to victory over Israel on Monday, initiating the mercy rule by taking a 10-0 lead in the eighth inning while having yet to allow a single baserunner.

Jose De Leon started the contest and set the tone, tying a World Baseball Classic record with 10 strikeouts over 5 2/3 perfect innings. De Leon had just reached 64 pitches when he reached double-digit punchouts, which was one pitch away from reaching the limit for starters in the opening round.

The only other pitcher with 10 strikeouts in a single WBC game is Ubaldo Jimenez, who accomplished the feat for the Dominican Republic in the 2009 event.

"I dreamt about a moment like this," De Leon said, according to the Associated Press. "After all the setbacks I faced, I deserved this type of moment. I wanted to let the public know I am here to stay and also show the world that Jose De Leon still can compete."

Yacksel Rios recorded the final out of the sixth, while Edwin Diaz and Duane Underwood Jr. each worked a perfect frame.

The game-ending run came on an RBI single from Enrique Hernandez with none out in the bottom of the eighth.

The broadcast initially declared the result a perfect game - the first in WBC history - but the Elias Sports Bureau later clarified that nine innings are required for a perfect game. The Elias Sports Bureau presides over scoring for MLB games and said WBC games are being held to the same scoring standards, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The only official no-hitter in WBC history came from Netherlands starter Shairon Martis in the inaugural tournament back in 2006.