In the best game of the tournament so far Brazil claimed a key win today against Venezuela, 2-1, to open the third day of competition in Group B. Mariana Ribeiro delivered a huge go-ahead 2-RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Brazil their second consecutive win of the tournament.
In the best game of the tournament so far Brazil claimed a key win today against Venezuela, 2-1, to open the third day of competition in Group B. Mariana Ribeiro delivered a huge go-ahead 2-RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Brazil their second consecutive win of the tournament.
Left-handed starters Camila Silva and Desiree Ybarra engaged in a terrific pitching duel. Silva pitched a gem during 5 innings, allowing 4 hits and 1 run, ending the game with no-decision. Ybarra was also brilliant during six episodes, surrendering 5 hits and 2 runs, taking a tough loss for Venezuela.
Brazil and Venezuela put two runners on board in their first offensive opportunity, but both starting pitchers escaped unharmed.
After two quick outs in the top of the first, Silva allowed a single to Denisse Fuenmayor and hit Ana Coscorrosa with a pitch to put two runners on. However, Silva struck out Jocelin Diaz to end the inning.
On the other hand, Brazil used the small ball in the bottom of the first inning to put two runners in scoring position. Leadoff Mayra Akamine slapped an infield hit to shortstop, Rebecca Laudino sacrificed herself to advance the runner, and then Gabriela Dos Santos bunted to the pitcher for the second infield hit of the inning. However, Desiree Ybarra fanned Mariana Ribeiro with a high rise ball and retired Barbara Wall with a fly to third base to end the inning.
In the top of the fourth, Fuenmayor hit a hard grounder through the third baseline, Akamine made a spectacular diving catch and assisted to first base, but Fuenmayor beat the throw for her second hit of the game. But Silva retired the next three batters she faced, with a pop up fly to catcher, a grounder to shortstop and a strikeout.
One inning later again Venezuela hit a leadoff single down the left-field line, this time off the bat of Cristina Rodriguez. Again Silva retired the next two batters of the inning with a pair of flyballs, but couldn’t avoid a line drive run-scoring double to center field by Eila Infante, that gave Venezuela the lead in the game.
However, in the bottom of the sixth, the top two hitters of the Brazilian lineup reached safely with no outs. Akamine laid down a perfect bunt in front of home plate for her second infield hit of the game, and Laudino slapped a grounder to third base, Mirian Jimenez gloved it and assisted to second base, but Estefany Dunno missed the base and couldn’t complete the play at second. Gabriela Dos Santos failed to advance the runners, but then Mariana Ribeiro connected a line drive to center field for a 2-run game-winning double, to make it 2-1.
In the bottom of the seventh Venezuela put the potential tying run in circulation, with a single to left field by Rodriguez. But reliever Livia Nakayama retired pinch hitter Michelle Floyd and Kimberly Caicedo with two fly balls to end the game.
Nakayama claimed the win pitching two innings in relief, allowing only 1 hit with 2 strikeouts.
Brazil remains unbeaten in the event, and tomorrow will face Dominican Republic at 7:30 p.m., in another crucial game in Group B. Venezuela, will take on Mexico at 8:30 p.m.
