Venezuela reach the final at 2017 Bolivarian Games

Venezuela reach the final at 2017 Bolivarian Games
16/11/2017

SANTA MARTA, Colombia — Venezuela reached the final of the Santa Marta 2017 Bolivarian Games with an agonizing victory against Colombia by 3-2 in eight innings.

SANTA MARTA, Colombia — Venezuela reached the final of the Santa Marta 2017 Bolivarian Games with an agonizing victory against Colombia by 3-2 in eight innings. Earlier, Panama beat Peru 7-6 and secured a spot on the podium. Today finish the competition.

Before a fully packed stadium, Venezuela earned a thrilling walkoff victory against Colombia in the eighth inning by 3-2, to clinch a spot in the final of the competition.

Venezuela scored first in the second inning, when Jocelin Díaz drove in Osmary Orta (who replaced Ana Coscorrosa as a pinch runner).

Colombia had a great chance to tie the game in the fifth inning. The local team loaded the bases with only one out, product of three singles, but Anyibel Ramírez escaped the jam by striking out Jennifer Garcia and forcing Paula Caraballo to pop up to third base to end the inning.

However, in the top of the seventh Colombia took the lead on the scoreboard. With two outs on the board Danisha Livingston found Erika Diaz and Kerlyn Gusman on base, and scored them with a triple to center field, giving their team a 2-1 lead, driving crazy the local fans.

However, in the bottom of the seventh, also with two outs, Olympian Yuruby Alicart tied the game with a double to center field, to put the score 2-2 and send the game to extra innings.

Then Colombia could not break the tie in the top of the eighth, and Venezuela scored the winning run with a single by Cristina Rodriguez to drive in Felianis Reyes from third base.

The winner of the game was Anyibel Ramírez, after eight innings of work where she allowed 7 hits and 2 runs, with 4 walks and 5 fanned.

Podium for Panama

Earlier, Panama secured its place on the podium after beating Peru by 7-6, in a high scoring vibrant game. Panama took control of the game in the first two innings of the game, to put the game at 4-1, but the Peruvians responded with two in the third and three in the fourth to put the game 6-4 in their favor.

However, Panama tied the game again with two runs in the fifth inning and scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning, making the score 7-6.

The winning pitcher was Marlenis Vargas in relief of three innings, with 2 hits, 2 strikeouts and no runs allowed. The loss was charged to Keyla Valdivieso, also in relief, allowing 1 run, 2 hits and 1 ticket, with 2 strikeouts, in two task entries.

This Thursday will be played the Bronze Medal and the Gold Medal games. First, Panama will face Colombia, looking for a spot in the final to fight for the gold against Venezuela.