31/07/2023 1 Minute Read

Home runs set tone, solid pitching propel Venezuela win against Japan

Alexandro Ladera and Ezequiel Zamora homered in the first, Dennis Quintero limited Japan to one hit over 4.2 innings, and Zamora got the final four outs.

Venezuela remain undefeated after beating Japan at the VII WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup on Monday, 7-1. Venezuela’s batters finished the game with nine hits, including the solo home runs that Alexandro Ladera and Ezequiel Zamora hit in the bottom of the first.

Trailing 2-0, Japan scored what would remain their only run in the second without getting a hit. Masaya Yabuuchi walked and then reached the second on a wild pitch. Kotaro Otsuka’s ground out sent Yabuuchi to third. He scored on a balk.

In the bottom of the second, Venezuela’s Juan Conde doubled to left centre, and Jheyslers Alayon’s single to left field drove in Conde to make it 3-1. They extended the lead to 4-1 in the third.

Japan had the best scoring opportunity in the fifth. With runners at second and third, Ayumu Tomita would have walked to load the bases. Still, Daito Funayama took off from second as he saw a chance to advance, forcing Sosuke Mizuno from third to home plate. Catcher Abel Granadillo tagged him for the third out.

Venezuela proved again timely with runners in scoring position in the bottom half of the frame. Ladera hit an RBI double down the right-field line, sending Angel Rondon and Willy Rodriguez home and extending the lead to 7-1.

Venezuela now lead Group A with a 3-0 record. They will face the host Chinese Taipei at 18.30 local time on Tuesday, while Japan will play Australia at 11.00.