"We lost a big bomber on our team, a guy who can really hit," Dominican captain Moises Alou said. "We were really counting on him. He would have made this lineup a lot better."

Rodriguez was examined by a specialist Wednesday in Colorado. On Thursday, it was announced the three-time AL MVP has a tear in his hip. The Yankees said they think he can avoid surgery.

The injury was the latest blow for a Dominican team already without some of the nation's best players, including Manny Ramirez, Albert Pujols, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez and Adrian Beltre.

"Every day you wake up, you feel something is going to happen," Dominican general manager Stan Javier said. "We just have to worry about what we have. We still have a very good team."

Fernando Tatis will join the team if the New York Mets give their approval, Javier said. Mets GM Omar Minaya gave Tatis the OK to go.

Despite all the missing stars, the roster still includes David Ortiz, Jose Reyes, Hanley Ramirez and Miguel Tejada. But in two games without Rodriguez, the Dominicans have totaled two runs.

They play their first WBC game Saturday in Puerto Rico against the Netherlands.

Rodriguez's injury could damage the Yankees' bid to overtake Boston in the AL East. But the melancholy mood in the Dominican clubhouse even overtook Ortiz, the Red Sox slugger.

"It's bad," Ortiz said. "He's not going to be able to be here. It's crazy. I hope he gets better and comes back in the regular season to do his thing."

The loss of Rodriguez was a double blow to Robinson Cano, second baseman for the Yankees and Dominicans.

"That's really sad, especially when you lose your cleanup hitter," Cano said. "That's going to hurt us, but we've got to play with what we've got here right now. It's going to be less fun because we were counting on him."

Five Cardinals pitchers stymied the Dominicans, starting with Todd Wellemeyer, who allowed four hits and one run in four innings. Starter Ubaldo Jimenez struck out four in three scoreless innings for the Dominicans, who allowed only six hits.

Rodriguez left the team after playing in its first exhibition game Tuesday, and he expected to return.

"The last time I talked to him was two nights ago," Dominican manager Felipe Alou said. "He said, 'See you guys at the ballpark."'

Now that will likely be in his hometown of Miami. The Dominicans play there if they advance out of the first round.

"We're going to keep his stuff," Javier said. "He said he's going to meet us in Miami to be with the team."