Venezuela takes important unbeaten record into Super Round after 5-0 win over Canada

Venezuela (3-0) held Canada (2-1) to one hit and cruised to a 5-0 victory on Wednesday in the last day of group play at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida in a contest between the two previously unbeaten sides in Group B.

Prior to the game Canada was the only team that had yet to give up a home run but that all changed as Venezuela hit two over the fences on Wednesday, to move to six for the tournament - three behind leaders the Dominican Republic.

Box Score

Four pitchers combined to shut down Canada’s offense, and Venezuela got on the board in the bottom of the second with a pair of two-out singles from Ramon Flores and Yonni Hernández.

Venezuela - who's most recent victory against Canada in a WBSC-level tournament was more than 50 years ago: 9-1 in the 1970 Baseball World Cup preliminary round - doubled its lead in the bottom of the fourth when Carlos Pérez clubbed his second home run of the tournament – a two-run shot – off of Trevor Brigden with nobody out. Juniel Querecuto’s solo home run in the bottom of the seventh made it 5-0.

Venezuela starter Enmanuel De Jesús went the first four innings, striking out three while allowing just one hit and three walks. Oddanier Mosqueda went the next two frames, walking one and striking out three on his way to earning the win. Harold Chirinos racked up four strikeouts in his two innings of work and Henry Centeno tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to wrap up the victory.

Pérez finished a triple shy of the cycle while catcher Robinson Chirinos reached base four times in as many tries (two walks, a single and a hit by pitch).

Jacob Robson recorded Canada’s lone hit – a single – in the first inning.

With group play now finished, both teams turn their attention to the Super Round - set to begin Friday afternoon in West Palm Beach. Venezuela will take on the Dominican Republic in the first game Friday, while Canada will take on the United States of America in the nightcap.