Buelvas’ homer and key hit give Colombia win over Venezuela in extra-inning thriller

Bryan Buelvas hit a homer to tie the game and singled on a bunt in the eighth-inning tie-break to bring home the winning run for Colombia against defending champions Venezuela in the IV WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup on Sunday.

Colombia scored an 8-7 win to improve their win-loss record to 2-1, while Venezuela dropped to 1-2 in Group A. The Venezuelans lost despite outhitting Colombia, 14-8. The game had a two-hour rain delay in the middle of the third.

Both sides were eager to record another win and Venezuela's Amador Arias ripped a solo home run for the first tick on the scoreboard. Colombia responded to tie the game 1-1 off a homer from Carlos Arroyo's solo home run.

Venezuela added two more runs in each of the next two frames, while Colombia managed to score just one run before the rain halted play in the middle of the third inning with Venezuela ahead 5-2 and extended it to 6-2 as the game resumed.

In the bottom of the fourth, Buelvas’ two-RBI homer sparked Colombian run that tied the game at 6-6. Branlyn Jaraba starred on the fifth inning with his single through the left field that drove in the go-ahead run, swinging the momentum to Colombia with the 7-6 lead.

Venezuela’s Mendoza singled to right field and drove in to tie the game once more at 7-7, until Buelvas' key hit in the eighth that closed the game 8-7.

Colombia will face Japan on Monday at 14.30 local time, while Venezuela will play Germany at 10:00.