MIAMI — Jake Peavy lasted only two innings, and in the wake of a Classic blowout, Team USA could soon be gone, too.

Thanks to an embarrassing 11-1 loss to Puerto Rico last night that was stopped early because of the mercy rule, the Americans are once again on the ropes in round two of the World Baseball Classic.

Carlos Beltran and Felipe Lopez homered, and Puerto Rico rocked Peavy for six runs to send the U.S. team into the loser's bracket. The Americans face the Netherlands in an elimination game tonight.

Javier Vazquez (2-0) allowed one run in five innings for Puerto Rico, which remained unbeaten through four games. Ivan Rodriguez, playing in Miami for the first time since he helped the Marlins win the 2003 World Series, went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI to hike his WBC batting average to .600 (9-for-15).

Adding embarrassment to an ugly U.S. performance, the game ended in the seventh inning because of the tournament's 10-run rule.

The Americans were eager to make amends for a humiliating eighth-place finish in the inaugural WBC three years ago, and they came into the tournament considered a strong contender for the title. But now they're in danger of repeating their second-round exit in 2006.

Puerto Rico advances to a winner's bracket game tomorrow against Venezuela, which beat the Dutch 3-1 in the first game yesterday.

Manager Davey Johnson unexpectedly rejoined Team USA and watched with a grimace as the Americans quickly fell behind. He had been scheduled to miss the game for the wedding of his stepson in St. Petersburg, with bench coach Barry Larkin filling in as interim manager.

The crowd of 30,595 was evenly divided in its support, but Puerto Rico fans had a lot more to cheer about. Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones and Kevin Youklis went a combined 0-for-9 batting 2-3-4 for Team USA, and Mark DeRosa went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts while stranding five runners.

DeRosa was a late fill-in for reigning AL MVP Dustin Pedroia, placed on the disabled list for the second round yesterday because of a strained muscle on his left side.

With the score 7-1, Beltran homered off Matt Thornton to start the seventh. Lopez doubled home a run and Mike Aviles hit a two-out, two-run single to end the game. Puerto Rico poured out of the dugout as fans armed with thundersticks and flags let out one final roar.

From the outset, Peavy turned the game into international batting practice. He gave up singles to three of the first four hitters he faced, and Puerto Rico scored twice in the first. Carlos Delgado singled home the first run, and Alex Rios followed with a sacrifice fly.

Things got worse in the second for Peavy (0-1). He gave up a leadoff walk and then Lopez's homer. Following another walk, Ramon Vazquez doubled, Beltran drove in a run with an infield single and Delgado delivered an RBI groundout.

While Peavy gave up six hits and two walks, Vazquez allowed only one baserunner until David Wright led off the fifth with a single. Adam Dunn also singled, and after a forceout, Brian McCann doubled home a run to make it 6-1.

Vazquez escaped further damage by retiring DeRosa and Shane Victorino.

MORE WBC

VENEZUELA WINS, 3-1

Miguel Cabrera and Jose Lopez each had solo home runs to power Venezuela to a 3-1 win over the Netherlands in the second round of the World Baseball Classic yesterday in Miami.

In his first game back at Dolphin Stadium, Cabrera reached back to his Florida Marlins' days with a laser line drive over the left-center field wall in the fourth that gave Venezuela the lead for good. Cabrera took his familiar slow walk down the first-base line, watching his ball sail over the scoreboard and sending fans of the red, yellow and blue into a flag-waving frenzy.

Carlos Silva allowed four hits and one run in seven innings, and Lopez's homer in the eighth gave Venezuela all the cushion it needed.

YANKEES

A-ROD MAKING PROGRESS

Alex Rodriguez is making progress in his rehabilitation program following right hip surgery.

"I talked to him (Friday)," manager Joe Girardi said after the Yankees beat Houston, 3-1, in a split-squad game yesterday. "He was supposed to get off the crutches today, supposed to start doing a little more rehab. Said he was good. (He's) in a good frame of mind."

Rodriguez underwent arthroscopic surgery Monday in Vail, Colo., where he will likely stay for the next couple of weeks. It's not known if the 12-time All-Star, expected to be out until sometime in May, will rejoin the team before spring training ends.

"I guess it depends on how well his rehab goes out there," Girardi said. "I would love to see him because that means it's going well. We haven't been given a timetable when to expect him out of Colorado."

Girardi said Rodriguez, who has been riding a stationary bike and doing range-of-motion exercises, is adding a workout program in a pool.

In other news, Mariano Rivera is ready to pitch in games and said he has "no doubt" he will be ready for opening day.

The Yankees closer is set to make his first spring training appearance Tuesday after throwing 40 pitches yesterday during his second batting practice session since coming back from right shoulder surgery in October.

Also, Robinson Cano and Damaso Marte were examined yesterday by Yankees team doctor Chris Ahamd.

The initial evaluation for Cano is that the second baseman has right shoulder tendinitis. He has had tightness in the back of the shoulder all spring.

Marte has inflammation in his throwing shoulder, which the left-hander believes is the result of lifting weights.

Both will have an MRI exam today.

NOTES

Mets: New York shut down right-hander Tim Redding yesterday, citing soreness and a lack of strength in his throwing shoulder. The Mets said it is unlikely he will make the opening day roster.

The former Nationals pitcher underwent offseason foot surgery before the Mets signed him in January. He was delayed earlier this spring by shoulder stiffness, but said he is now experiencing a different kind of ache.

Redding will begin rehab once his strength returns, but general manager Omar Minaya said there is no timetable for his return.

Athletics: Oakland starter Justin Duchscherer had another setback in his rehabilitation from an elbow injury and will miss the start of the season.

Duchscherer had to stop playing long toss yesterday morning because of persistent pain in his right elbow. He was given a cortisone injection and he won't be able to touch a baseball until at least Tuesday.