22/06/2021 - 26/06/2021

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Tokyo 2020 Olympic Baseball Final Qualifier - Official Payoff

Final Olympic baseball qualifier Day 2: VEN vs. NED historical preview, starting pitchers

Final Olympic baseball qualifier Day 2: VEN vs. NED historical preview, starting pitchers
23/06/2021
Today’s game will feature two left-handed starting pitchers, with Netherlands’ Diegomar Markwell and Venezuela's Jhonatan Diaz.

PUEBLA, Mexico -- On Wednesday at 5 p.m. local time, the Netherlands (0-0) and Venezuela (0-1) will meet at Hermanos Serdán Stadium for Game 2 of the WBSC Baseball Final Qualifier. The game will feature two left-handed starting pitchers, as the Netherlands’ Diegomar Markwell and Venezuela's Jhonatan Diaz take the mound.

A veteran of 22 professional baseball seasons, Markwel has a perfect 5-0 record this season in the Dutch Hoofdklasse, with a 1.45 ERA in 6 starts. The lefty pitched 1.2 innings in relief in the Premier12 2019 in 2 appearances, with 1 run allowed and 1 strikeout.

Diaz will take the mound for a Venezuela team that will to rebound from a 10-7 opening game loss against the Dominican Republic. The 24-year-old southpaw finished the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier with 1-1 record, earning the win against Cuba in relief of 1.2 innings, and losing his start against Dominican Republic, lasting 1.2 frames allowing 3 unearned runs.

Historical Match-ups

  • World No. 8 Venezuela and No. 9 Netherlands haven't played each other in recent history.
  • Netherlands defeated Venezuela at the Baseball World Cup in 2007, 2009 and 2011.
  • Venezuela recorded a 3-1 win against Netherlands in the second round of the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
  • Netherlands has competed in four of the five Olympic baseball events (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008). Only in 1992 did the Dutch not feature at the Games.
  • Venezuela has never made it to the Olympic Games in the sport of baseball.
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