04/08/2023 1 Minute Read

Venezuela in play for Medal Round after emotional extra-inning win against Dominican Republic

The pitchers dominated for five innings before a thrilling finish. The Dominicans came inches short of a walk-off win, but a home run by José Castillo proved the game-changer in the top of the seventh.

After five innings of no score, World No. 6 Venezuela took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Dominican Republic came back to tie it, loaded the bases and thought they had walked it off on a chopper up the middle by Hendry Vargas. Venezuelan shortstop Ezequiel Zamora got the force out. Jose Castillo highlighted the top of the seventh with a three-run homer, and Venezuela won it 8-2.

Venezuela and the Dominican Republic took a pitching duel into the sixth. Venezuela's Alexandro Ladera had allowed only two hits. Enmanuel Reyes and Jefferson Guzman combined for five scoreless innings.

Shortstop Ezequiel Zamora led off the sixth with a solo homer off Guzman, giving Venezuela the lead. A defensive error prolonged Venezuela's at bat and second baseman Angel Rondon made it 2-0 with an RBI single.

With a runner at second and one out in the bottom half of the frame, the Dominican Republic got to Ladera with back-to-back extra-base hits. Right fielder Keimer Paula doubled and centre fielder Kelvin Reyes tripled to tie the game.

Rondon moved to the mound to deal with a bases-loaded jam. On a 2-2 count, Dominican first baseman Yerald Vargas hit a chopper up the middle. Zamora got to the ball, dodged second baseman Ladera and stepped on the bag for the force out, taking the game to extra innings.

Guzman moved the tie-break runners with a wild pitch and walked the bases loaded before handing the ball to Jairo Meija. Ladera hit a sacrifice fly to left field to give Venezuela a new lead. Catcher José Castillo was all over Mejia's first pitch and drove it over the left field fence for a three-run homer.

Centre fielder Willy Rodriguez and Zamora hit back-to-back singles. It was all for the Dominicans, who gave up two more runs on errors.

Venezuela (2-2) are now tied with the United States and Japan. They will face Korea for their Final Super Round game. The Dominica Republic (1-3) will play against Japan.