Miami’s LoanDepot Park became a branch of the Caribbean and strong emotions. The Venezuelan national team confirmed its role as the favorite by overpowering Israel with a resounding 11-3 victory, maintaining its undefeated record in the World Baseball Classic.
But the real gem of the day came from the ninth of the Netherlands, with an outcome that had never been seen before in this tournament.
World Classic: Venezuela vs Israel
The Venezuelan national team won its second straight victory in the World Baseball Classic with a 3-11 victory over Israel on Saturday.
In the bottom game of today’s schedule at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Omar Lopez’s Venezuelan ninth had a four-run rally in the bottom of the first inning, in which Ronald Acuña put the first inning on the board after a hit by Luis ‘La Regadera’ Arráez and an error by Israeli shortstop Cole Carrigg.
At 0-2, it was Arráez’s turn to step on home plate after a single by Salvador Pérez of the Kansas City Royals, and 0-3 and 0-4 came after a home run by Eugenio Suárez of the Cincinnati Reds, which also led to a run by Pérez, who was on base.
The respite for the Israelis only came in the top of the fifth, when Garrett Stubbs took advantage of a Matt Mervis single and reported at the plate, but in the bottom of the fifth Venezuela increased its lead after Arráez hit a solo home run.
The Israelis, coached by Brad Ausmus, got their other run off in the top of the sixth on a single home run by RJ Schreck, but in the bottom of the sixth they suffered another Venezuelan rally, this time of five runs, in which Gleyber Torres, Ezequiel Tovar, Arráez, Acuña and Maikel García all reported.
In the bottom of the eighth, ‘La Regadera’ stepped on the plate for the eleventh Venezuelan celebration after a hit by Wilyer Abreu that also put Acuña on second base.
The top of the ninth saw Harrison Bader hit another solo home run for the third Israeli run.
The bottom half ended without further incident and the win for the ninth-ranked Vinotinto was consigned.
Dutch golden home run
Earlier in the day, Nicaragua went into the ninth inning with a 3-1 lead over the Netherlands until Curaçao second baseman Ozzie Albies came on to turn Angel Obando’s first pitch into a 3-run home run.
Final result: 3-4, and we are already starting to talk about an unprecedented event.
The walk-off home run had never been seen before in the history of the World Baseball Classic, which dates back to 2006, and the unprecedented event caused an explosion of surprise and jubilation among the 16,897 fans who filled the stands of the Floridian venue.
Nicaragua, which lost 12-3 to the Dominican Republic on Friday, had already taken the victory for granted, but Albies, of the Atlanta Braves, spoiled the party.
The win came when the Orangemen were threatened with two outs and Nicaraguan pitcher Angel Obando was working solidly.
The Netherlands got their first win, but already has one loss in the tournament, as they lost to Venezuela 6-2 on Friday.
The Group D schedule will continue on Monday with the Dominican Republic-Israel and Venezuela-Nicaragua games, both in Miami.
Venezuela leads the standings with two wins, zero losses and a winning percentage of 1.000, followed by the Dominican Republic with one win, no losses and a PCT of 1.000.
In third place is the Netherlands with one win, one loss and a PCT of .500, Israel is in fourth with one loss and PCT of .000, and closes out the series Nicaragua with two losses and PCT of .000.
Filed under: Clásico Mundial Venezuela vs Israel
With information from EFE
