Venezuela’s bats started early on
Thursday night. They hardly let up.
Behind a 13-hit attack that included four multi-hit performers, world No. 10 Venezuela routed No. 8 the Netherlands 9-4 to wrap up the first day of Group B play in Hermosillo for the III WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup.
Venezuela plated three runs on six
straight singles in the bottom of the first inning on Thursday, scratching
across tallies thanks to constant base traffic against Netherlands starter
Scott Prins. Romer Cuadrado, Juan Fernandez, and Anderson Melendez all notched
RBI base hits to stake the home team to an early lead.
The Netherlands didn’t fold, though. In
the top of the second, the world No. 8 responded by loading the bases with one
out for catcher Dave Janssen, who powered a two-run double to right-center to
cut Venezuela’s lead to one.
That was as close as the Netherlands
would get. Venezuela broke the game open in the bottom of the second with four
more runs, three coming on a mammoth homer to left field by first baseman
Robert Perez. After the Netherlands plated a run in the fifth, Venezuela
answered with two more on a wild pitch and an RBI single from Jean Mendoza.
In total, the top eight hitters in
Venezuela’s lineup notched at least one hit while Jesus Lujano led the way with
three.
Prins lasted just 1 1/3 innings, charged
with six runs (five earned) on eight hits while taking the loss. Winkelman
Ramirez entered in relief of Venezuela starter Nelson Hernandez – who departed
after 1 1/3 innings due to apparent injury – and was credited with the win after
not allowing a hit or run over 2 2/3.
Venezuela will play the night game at
19:30 on Friday against fellow 1-0 team Colombia while the Netherlands looks to
rebound in its 15:00 start against 0-1 Korea.