World Baseball Classic: Venezuela 5, Israel 1
Venezuela, which had already clinched the Pool D championship, completed its perfect performance in Pool D with a convincing victory over Israel Wednesday afternoon.
Mariners slugger Eugenio Suarez was the offensive star for the victors. Suarez singled home two runs in a three-run Venezuela fist, homered in the sixth and added a base hit in the eighth.
Suarez is now batting .600 for the tournament.
Marlins starter Jesus Luzardo pitched a scoreless four innings, allowing four hits and striking out five. He was the first of four Venezuela pitchers who combined to strike out 12 opponents.
Team Israel had to limit itself to moral victories, which there were a couple.
After being shut out on just one hit the previous two games, Israel pushed across a run in the seventh when Jakob Goldfarb’s drive to right-center got home Noah Mendlinger.
Israel’s nine hits exceeded by one their previous total for the entire tournament.
By defeating Nicaragua in their tournament opener, Israel ensured that it would not finish last in its group. Avoiding that ignominy means an automatic bid to the next WBC.
By finishing first in its group, Venezuela advances to the tournament quarterfinals, also in Miami. They will play the U.S. on Friday.