Venezuela four, Nicaragua 1
What Occurred: Nicaragua’s Erasmo Ramirez kept Venezuela off the board for 3 innings, providing Nicaragua a opportunity to take an early lead. But when Nicaragua had to go to the bullpen, an RBI single by Andres Gimenez, a two-RBI single by Eugenio Suarez and an RBI double by Anthony Santander gave Venezuela all the runs it required to strengthen to three-.
Stars of the Game: Santander went two-for-two with a double, two walks, a run scored and an RBI. Suarez had two hits. Ramirez worked 3 scoreless innings, enabling two hits and striking out 3. Nicaragua’s Benjamin Alegria had 3 hits. The 25-year-old hit .500 in 12 tournament at-bats.
What It Signifies: Venezuela can begin creating its plans for the quarterfinals. If the Dominican Republic beats Israel tonight, that will clinch a spot for Venezuela, which has currently beaten the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Even if that does not take place, Venezuela’s path to the subsequent round appears quite clear. Nicaragua’s pool play is more than and at -four, it is relegated and will have to qualify for the subsequent Planet Baseball Classic.
– J.J. Cooper
Canada five, Colombia
What Occurred: Noah Skirrow and 3 relievers combined on a shutout, Otto Lopez hit a 3-run homer and Canada shut out Colombia in a game with significant implications for the Pool C standings. Bo Naylor gave Canada the lead with an RBI single in the fourth and Owen Caissie padded Canada’s lead with an RBI single in the eighth to make it two-. Lopez’s 3-run homer in the best of the ninth blew the game open, and Scott Mathieson wrapped up the shutout with a scoreless ninth.
Stars of the Game: Skirrow, a 24-year-old Phillies prospect, pitched 5 scoreless innings with two hits permitted, a single stroll and 5 strikeouts for Canada. He threw just 58 pitches, 40 for strikes, and faced the minimum just after inducing two double play balls and receiving a strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play from his catcher Naylor. Colombia lefthander Rio Gomez, the son of late ESPN broadcaster Pedro Gomez, created his WBC debut in the sixth inning and pitched 1.1 scoreless innings with no hits permitted, a single stroll and two strikeouts. He departed to an ovation from the crowd in Phoenix, exactly where he and his loved ones grew up.
Prospects Of Note: Lopez, the Blue Jays No. 15 prospect, went two-for-five with a triple and a 3-run homer. Naylor, the Guardians No. three prospect, went 1-for-five with an RBI. Caissie, the Cubs No. 13 prospect, went 1-for-four with an RBI.
What It Signifies: Canada improves to two-1 in Pool C and can attain the WBC quarterfinals for the initially time with a win more than Mexico in its final game on Wednesday. Colombia falls to 1-two and is all but eliminated from quarterfinals contention just after unexpectedly falling to Wonderful Britain and Canada following its tournament-opening win more than Mexico.
– Kyle Glaser