Rincones cranks walk-off homer to lift Venezuela over Colombia

Rincones cranks walk-off homer to lift Venezuela over Colombia
01/06/2021
Venezuela is now 2-0 after a pair of one-run wins over Cuba and Colombia and will head into a pivotal Group B meeting with Cuba at 1 PM on Wednesday. Colombia (0-2) will square off with Cuba at 7 PM Wednesday night.

With a long-awaited offensive flourish, Colombia seized late-inning momentum against Venezuela on Tuesday afternoon. Venezuela only needed one moment to take it back.

Diego Rincones belted a walk-off home run to left field to rescue his team and send it into the final stage of opening round play unbeaten as Venezuela took down Colombia, 3-2, on the second day of the WBSC Baseball Americas Qualifier in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

Rincones’ game-winning homer came after a wild top of the ninth inning. Venezuela led from the fifth on after Alexander Palma and Luis Castro reached on a single and walk to open that frame and scored on a line shot off the bat of Hernan Perez that Colombia’s Jeter Downs couldn’t handle at shortstop. Colombia, which had just two hits through its first 16 offensive innings at the plate, finally got on the board with a run in the eighth on Bryan Belvuas’ RBI groundout to short that cashed in Derwin Pomares’ leadoff single through the right side that inning.

Venezuela reliever Adrian Almeida struck out Boston Red Sox prospect Jeter Downs to open the ninth inning, but that brought Colombia manager Jair Fernandez from the first base dugout. After a brief conversation, the umpiring crew inspected Almeida’s glove and ejected the left-handed pitcher. The decision provided an opportunity for Colombia.

Facing new reliever Gabriel Moya, Colombia third baseman Jordan Diaz capitalized with a game-tying homer to left field.

The elation didn’t last long for Colombia.

On the second pitch of the bottom of the ninth from Colombia righty Carlos Ocampo, Venezuela’s Rincones hammered a no-doubt homer off the roof of the concessions stand beyond the left field wall, flipped his bat, journeyed around the bases and celebrated with his raucous teammates at home plate.

Venezuela is now 2-0 after a pair of one-run wins over Cuba and Colombia and will head into a pivotal Group B meeting with Cuba at 1 PM on Wednesday. Colombia (0-2) will square off with Cuba at 7 PM Wednesday night. Both games will be at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches with the top two finishers from Group B moving on to the Super Round beginning Friday.