threw out a runner at home plate, the giddiness of Enrique Hernandez celebrating a teammate’s home run by charging out of the dugout draped in a Puerto Rican flag, even the bat flip of Kailan Sams after what he thought was ball four but was actually ball three.


The joy was on display in the stands too. Dodger Stadium was not even half full on Monday, but the historic ballpark shook to the rhythm of whistles, cowbells, tambourines, maracas and drums, for another classic in a World Baseball Classic full of them. This was a festival for more than four hours, closing time forced by the international tiebreaker rule.

Jansen, the Dodgers’ closer, entering to wild applause and his signature “California Love” song. He retired Puerto Rico on nine pitches,in the cabaret (my coworker seems to know everyone), we sat down at a little wooden table and ordered some muchopo and Amstel.

While we were waiting, a huge SUV rolled into the parking lot. Music was blaring from the open windows, and everyone was looking at the people who had just arrived. They jumped down from the car, laughing and talking much louder than necessary. The men wore camouflage shorts and flip flops and the women were prancing about in strapless tops. They popped open the back, where they sat and tailgated, drinking massive beers and being obnoxious.

“Rwandans,” my coworker sighed. I nearly passed out laughing. In any other country, people would have thought they were American. Camouflage shorts? I have never seen a Rwandan man wearing shorts.