Collins charges late surge in 4-1 Netherlands victory over Puerto Rico

Darryl Collins' well-executed bunt pushed the runners to home plate until his own run in the eighth-inning completed the 4-1 win over Puerto Rico in Group B on Wednesday at the IV WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup.

Puerto Rico's game came down when Victor Torres came late on the ball then rushing his throw to first, eventually allowing the tie-break runners to score. It was a game of missed opportunities for the boricuas, including a no-out, bases-loaded situation in the bottom half of the frame, where the Netherlands capitalised on the situation to add one run to seal the win.

Dutch starter Dylan Farley was off to an intense start, when he hit Ezequiel Pagan and sent him to second on a failed pick-off attempt. Pagan reached third on a groundout and tried to score on a chopper to second. Tyriq Kemp beat him at home, with the call confirmed after the video review.

The bottom of the second ended when left fielder Glenn Santiago hit into an inning-ending double play.

In the top of the fourth, the Netherlands took the lead. Left fielder Darryl Collins and shortstop Shervyen Newton got to starter Sebastian Rodriguez with back-to-back hits. They advanced on a bunt, and Collins scored on a grounder by DH Max Kops. Newton was then the second out at home.

Puerto Rico manufactured the tying run in the bottom of the fourth, as Santiago made the most of a walk and a couple of walks, bringing him the runner from third with a sacrifice fly.

Both teams had the chance to win in the regular innings but missed bases-loaded opportunities in the bottom of the sixth and the top of the seventh.

Trailing 4-1, Puerto Rico loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth, but reliever Nigel Calmes retired shortstop Dilan Rosario, pinch hitter Jonathan Nieves and right fielder Misael Acosta.