Calay News
Venezuela defeated the Dominican Republic 5-1 in the first game of Group D of the World Baseball Classic held in Miami. Despite an early lead taken by the Dominicans in the first inning, Venezuela’s dominant pitching and timely hitting helped them come back and secure their first-ever win against the Dominican Republic in the competition. David Peralta, who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was the offensive engine for Venezuela with two hits and three runs batted in, including a two-run single with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. The Venezuelan pitching staff, led by Martin Perez of the Texas Rangers, held the Dominican offense in check, leaving 27 batters stranded on base.
Puerto Rico also won their opening game, defeating Nicaragua 9-1, with Francisco Lindor and Christian Vazquez contributing key hits. Meanwhile, Colombia pulled off an upset victory over Mexico, winning 5-4 in extra innings. Japan also secured their third straight win in the tournament, defeating the Czech Republic, and are on their way to the next round in Group B.
In the second round of Group D games, Venezuela will face Puerto Rico while Israel plays Nicaragua. The top two teams from each group will advance to the next round. The United States, which played their first game against the United Kingdom on Saturday, will face Mexico on Sunday in Phoenix, Arizona.
