Cesar Tordesillas

Slugger David Wright drove in five runs, the last three with a bases-loaded double in the eighth, in leading USA to a 7-1 World Baseball Classic win over Puerto Rico Tuesday.

That prompted chants of "U-S-A! U-S-A!" from the crowd of 32,872.

"Obviously the adrenalin gets pumping for this tournament," Wright said. "You wear that uniform, you want to go out there and represent your country."

Wright didn't skimp in praising his teammate Gio Gonzalez who pitched five scoreless innings, which allowed the USA to lead from the first inning against Puerto Rico, after the United States fell behind in all three games in the opening round.

"Gio set the tone early, coming out and absolutely getting us in the dugout quick," Wright said. "We didn't have to play too long on defense, and we kept putting runners on base. It was building that momentum, and Gio started it."

His tie-breaking grand slam against Italy on Saturday kept the US alive and they advanced to the next round with a win over Canada.

Wright, who got paid this winter in signing an eight-year, $138-million extension with the New York Mets, seems to have attracted more attention during this WBC than he has during the last few frustrating seasons in Queens.

Aptly named Captain America of the WBC, Wright is hitting .438 (7-for-16) with a grand slam and a WBC record-tying 10 RBIs for the United States in its first four games.

His teammates had a laugh with the whole Captain America nickname Wednesday morning at the team's breakfast meeting.

Instead of the usual place setting with his name, Wright's card had his head superimposed on the costumed body of Captain America.

"They were having fun with it," Wright said. "I think they're about as tired of it as probably everybody else is. It's a cool superhero, so I'm thrilled about that, at least."

One person who hopes that Wright keeps his comic-book powers for another game is tonight's starter, R.A. Dickey, who didn't have his best knuckleball in the first-round loss to Mexico.

"I think he's stepping forward on a team full of superstars," Dickey said, "and kind of becoming that visual leader."

The Americans will play Thursday night against the Dominican Republic, which remained unbeaten in the WBC by rallying past Italy 5-4 on Tuesday. And "Captain America" will face another superhero-of-sorts in Robinson Cano who has been virtually unstoppable at the plate, batting .632 (12-for-19) with four doubles and a pair of home runs.

When the two square off Thursday night at Marlins Park, the outcome will decide which team advances to the WBC semifinals, which begin Sunday in San Francisco. The other will have to fight its way out of the losers' bracket to secure the second bid from Miami's Pool 2.

"Not to give you a short answer and try to avoid it," Farrell said. "It's safe to say we don't have another David Ortiz waiting to occupy that slot."

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USA's Wright Readies 'Superhero' Skills against Dominicans