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Jones: U.S. motivated by Puerto Rico's premature championship T-shirts

Matt Brown / Major League Baseball / Getty

Outfielder Adam Jones, a man always willing to express how he feels in the heat of the moment, revealed one key source of motivation behind the United States' 8-0 World Baseball Classic title win over Puerto Rico.

"Should I tell the truth?" Jones asked during the trophy celebration. "Well before the game we got a note that there were some championship shirts made; we didn't make them ... and a flight. That didn't sit well with us."

Jones, who paused briefly, didn't stop there after a teammate informed him of something he forgot to mention.

"And a parade. That didn't sit well with us. So, we did what we had to do. Stroman went out there and gave us his all, the players they battled the offense swung the bats and we brought it home for the United States."

Puerto Rico third baseman Carlos Correa confirmed the team was planning to fly back to their country regardless if they won or lost the title game but denied the notion that the group was overconfident.

"It's funny because they have been talking about that, but it's all about the country; it's not about our team," Correa said, according to ESPN's Doug Padilla. "Our country has been behind us since we have started (the tournament). When we were in Mexico, we told the governor in Puerto Rico that if we made it to the finals, we need to plane to get back and celebrate with our people."

The title victory was a long time coming for the United States, who had never finished better than fourth in the tournament.

(Video courtesy: MLB.com)

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