Venezuela beats Nicaragua, remains only undefeated team in U-23 Baseball World Cup

At the end of three days of U-23 Baseball World Cup play, only one 3-0 team remains.

Paced by a home run, double, and three RBIs from designated hitter Juan Fernández, world No. 10 Venezuela won its continued its unbeaten start in Mexico, knocking off No. 14 Nicaragua 6-3 on Saturday night at Estadio Sonora in Hermosillo.

Carlos Rodríguez got Venezuela’s scoring started in the top of the second inning when his double to right-center field brought home Fernández after the latter’s leadoff walk and a single by José Sibrian. One batter later, Jesús Lujano reached on an infield single to score Sibrian.

In the third, Venezuela extended its margin. Romer Cuadrado walked with one out, and with two gone, Fernández connected on a two-run homer to left-center to open a string of four straight hits. After singles through the left side by Sibrian and Kelvin Melean, Antonio Piñeda sent a single of his own to left to plate Sibrian.

Nicaragua’s early offensive star of the tournament, Luis Montealto, got his team on the board with an RBI single to left in the bottom of the fourth, and Nicaragua got two runs closer in the sixth. Alvaro Rubi doubled to right to drive in Milkar Perez, and William Rayo lofted a sacrifice fly to left to score Elian Miranda and make it a 5-3 game.

Venezuela distanced itself once more in the seventh, though, when Fernández drove a double down the left field line to score Justin López from first base for the game’s final margin.

Wikelman Ramírez picked up his second win of the World Cup, working two innings in relief of Venezuela starter Luis Ojeda, who went just 3 2/3. Carlos Valero closed out the victory over the final 1 1/3 innings.

Now 3-0, Venezuela looks to continue its run. The 2018 U-23 bronze medallists square off with world No. 2 Korea in the night game from 19:30 on Sunday in Hermosillo while Nicaragua, now 1-2, will meet Colombia from 15:00.