28/07/2021 - 07/08/2021

 

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Baseball Olympic Games 2020 - Official Payoff

ISR-DOM Olympic baseball elimination game: Historical Preview and Starting Pitchers

ISR-DOM Olympic baseball elimination game: Historical Preview and Starting Pitchers
02/08/2021
It's a one-game playoff between baseball powerhouse Dominican Republic and Olympic newcomer Israel.

One game is scheduled for Tuesday, 3 August, in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic baseball tournament. It's an elimination game, and the winner will have the chance to play against the United States for a spot in the second semifinal, which is scheduled for Thursday, 5 August.

No. 24 Israel @ No. 7 Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republics is going with left-hander Christopher Mercedes as the team's starting pitcher. The 27-year-old, who plays for the Tokyo Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), started the Tokyo 2020 opening game against Japan, pitching six strong innings and getting a no decision.

Israel will hand the ball to right-hander Josh Zeid. The 34-year old former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher started Sunday game against Mexico, going 2.1 innings

Game Notes

  • Dominican Republic and Israel have never met before at a major international tournament (Olympic Games, World Cup, World Baseball Classic, Premier 12).
  • Dominican Republic have won each of their last six games against WBSC Europe opponents at major tournaments, since a 2-1 defeat to Netherlands at the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
  • Dominican Republic have won one and lost two games at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. All three of their games were decided by a one-run margin.
  • In both of Dominican Republic's defeats at Tokyo 2020 (4-3 v Japan, 4-3 v Republic of Korea), they had a 3-1 lead in the middle of the ninth inning. They conceded three runs in the bottom of the ninth on both occasions.
  • Dominican Republic's only victory in these Olympic Games was a 1-0 over Mexico in the group stage. In their only previous Olympic Games participation (Barcelona 1992), they won two games – 11-2 against Spain and 7-5 against Italy – and lost five.
  • Israel have won one and lost three games at Tokyo 2020, their debut Olympic Games.
  • Israel lost 6-5 to Republic of Korea and 8-1 to United States in the group stage, before beating Mexico 12-5 in round 1 and falling 11-1 to Republic of Korea again in round 2.
  • Only Republic of Korea's Park Hae Min (.571), Mexico's Joey Meneses (.500) and Japan's Kai Takuya (.500) have an as high a batting average at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games as Dominican Republic's Julio Rodríguez (.500).
  • Israel's Ryan Lavarnway and Danny Valencia (both 2) are two of five players to have hit multiple home runs at these Olympic Games, alongside Republic of Korea's Oh Ji Hwan and Kim Hyunsoo and United States's Triston Casas (all 2).
  • Valencia (5) is the runs leader at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.