World Baseball Classic: Puerto Rico Finishes Pool Play Undefeated
By Anthony Sosa
Team Puerto Rico finished pool play undefeated with its 13-2 victory over Team Venezuela in Pool F action on Saturday. Puerto Rico and Team Japan remain the only two teams without a loss in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
After completing Pool D undefeated in the first round of the World Baseball Classic, Team Puerto Rico finished Pool F undefeated, as well. Puerto Rico defeated Team Venezuela 13-2, Saturday. It was the second time in the tournament that Puerto Rico beat Venezuela.
Similar to Friday night’s game between Puerto Rico and Team USA, in the first inning, Puerto Rico loaded the bases before an out occurred. Although, Venezuela pitcher Martin Perez only allowed one run to score. Puerto Rico second baseman T.J. Rivera drove in the run on a fielder’s choice.
Neither starter made it past the third inning. Perez pitched 2.2 innings with two runs allowed, four hits, a walk and three strikeouts. Puerto Rico’s starter Jose De Leon also pitched 2.2 innings. He allowed zero runs on three hits, a walk and five strikeouts.
Puerto Rico added a run in the third and fifth innings and added two more in the sixth inning. Venezuela finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning. Second baseman Rougned Odor hit a two-run home run to center field. The home run was Odor’s second of the tournament.
In the top of the seventh inning, Puerto Rico blew the game wide open. They scored five runs in the inning. Right fielder Mike Aviles drove in two runs in the inning. He finished the game 4-for-5 with three RBI. First baseman Rene Rivera contributed an RBI-double in the inning.
Puerto Rico added another run in the eighth inning and in the ninth, Puerto Rico DH Kennys Vargas hit a two-run home run to finish off the scoring. Vargas went 2-for-5 and scored three times.
Puerto Rico finished the game with 17 hits and a 13-2 win. They outscored their Pool F opponents 22-8. Venezuela finished Pool F winless.
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Next: Puerto Rico Clinches Semifinal Spot
What to look forward to next?
Team USA (1-1) and Team Dominican Republic (1-1) square off at 7 p.m. PST, Saturday. The winner of the game advances to the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic. The winner takes on Japan at 6 p.m. PST, Tuesday.
As for Puerto Rico, they take on the Kingdom of the Netherlands in semifinal action, 6 p.m. PST, Monday. The winner advances to the championship game.