Ramirez leads defending champions Venezuela to opening win over South Africa

Defending world champions Venezuela opened the IV WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup with a shutout win against South Africa, 9-0 at Douliu Stadium on Friday.

Carrying a no-hitter into the seventh, Venezuela’s pitcher Wikelman Ramirez only allowed 20 batters before South Africa’s Joshua Wentzel singled up the middle with one out for their first hit of the game. With 11 strike-outs, Ramirez didn’t give the opponent too many opportunities to change the tide.

Early in the game, South Africa performed a fantastic double play, forcing Venezuela to have three quiet innings. South Africa’s starting pitcher Dylan O’Brien even expressed tremendous strength and will power to stay on the mound after he got hit by a single straight into his upper arm.

The momentum seemed with South Africa but starting with Carlos Mendoza’s single down the left field line, Venezuela scored three runs in the fourth. They would add three in the fifth and in the sixth.

🇻🇪 Venezuela scored the first run of the game in the 4th to lead 1-0!

📺 LIVE Streaminghttps://t.co/1hIixsFUYp#U23WorldCup pic.twitter.com/BzDDLRDubh

— WBSC ⚾🥎 (@WBSC) October 14, 2022

Jesus Chirinos stood out. His fourth inning double helped Mendoza land Venezuela's first run and the lead. Chirinos had two hits and two RBIs.

Venezuela will face Japan at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium at 14:30 (local time) on Day 3. While, South Africa will start the day playing against Colombia, which had a day off after Thursday's opening game.