San Juan.– Netherlands stunned Dominican Republic 3-2 on Saturday in their opening game at the World Baseball Classic, scoring three unearned runs to give the Dutch their greatest win in the sport.

New York Yankees pitcher Sidney Ponson, an Aruban-born right-hander with 11 years of Major League Baseball experience, allowed five hits in four innings before four Dutch hurlers threw five innings of shutout relief to take the win.

"It's a huge thing. We upset one of the best teams," Ponson said. "I told these guys don't believe they're an all-star team because they are an all-star team. Believe in yourself and throw strikes and good things will happen."

Dutch manager Rod Delmonico described the matchup as David versus Goliath with Ponson aiming the slingshot at the Dominican major league giants. "I told you Sidney had a rock in his back pocket," Delmonico said. "I forgot to tell you that some of our bullpen had rocks in their back pockets, too. And I think that was the key."

The Dominicans, considered among the Classic favorites with a squad filled with millionaire major-league stars, must now win Sunday against the loser of a later game between Panama and Puerto Rico simply to stay in the 16-team event.

"We are against the wall. The team knows it," Dominican manager Felipe Alou said. "As I understand it, the Dominican team lost the first inning of the first Classic and then the team launched. We are forced to do the same here."