Press Release International Baseball Federation, www.ibaf.org
Favorites prevail on Second Day of IBAF Baseball World Cup
Panama City, Panama. After the opening game between Panama and Greece on Saturday, the IBAF Baseball World Cup got things going with six games on Sunday. It would have been seven, however the first outing for defending champion USA and Japan was rained out. The other favorites took the field and prevailed. Cuba and the Dominican Republic captured shutouts one day before squaring off in Chitre. Canada crushed Puerto Rico. The Netherlands, Nicaragua and Venezuela celebrated one-run victories.
Group 1
Puerto Rico – Canada 1-9
The bronze medalist of the 38th edition, Canada, had an easy start into the 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup, as they cruised to a 9-1 win over Puerto Rico on Sunday afternoon at Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City. Three runs in the first got them the lead. It was 6-0 after six. Three runs in the sixth blew it open. Puerto Rico only was able to avoid the shutout. Jimmy van Ostrand and Cole Armstrong went deep for Canada.
Netherlands – Chinese Taipei 2-1
In the small but welcoming stadium Remon Cantera the Netherlands beat Chinese Taipei in its Baseball World Cup debut (2-1). The European team scored all its runs in the second inning on a single by Vince Rooi. The good performance of starting pitcher Shairon Martis, well supported by closer Tom Stuifbergen, defending the advantage in a game more focused on defense than offense (nine in total).
Rainout
The game between defending champion Team USA and Japan at Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City on Sunday evening was rained out. Thunderstorms and heavy rain made the field unplayable. A make-up game will be announced later.
Group 2
Australia – Cuba 0-14 (7)
Cuba gets rid of Team Australia in seven-innings at the 2011 Baseball World Cup in Chitre. The final score was 14-0, with the Cuban lineup overpowering all the Australian pitchers, beginning with the Aussie starter Dushan Ruzic, who allowed two runs in the first and a total of six in the fourth, with a grand slam by young Barbar Arruebarruena that virtually gave an end to the competition.
Germany – Nicaragua 4-5
Nicaragua blew a 4-0 lead, but still prevailed 5-4 against Germany in the first game at Omar Torrijos stadium in Santiago, Panama on Sunday afternoon. A sacrifice fly by Esteban Ramirez in the top of the sixth inning broke the tie and turned out to be decisive in this Group 2 matchup. Nicaragua had scored four times in the opening period, but the German team came back to tie it after four innings. Donald Lutz hit a solo homerun for Germany.
Venezuela – Korea 5-4
Venezuela needed two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to down Korea 5-4 in an evening game at Rico Cedeno stadium in Chitre. The Asian powerhouse had scored four times in the sixth to erase an early 0-3 deficit. Ronald Acuna hit a solo homerun for Venezuela. Hae Min Park collected three hits for Korea, Wuilliuans Vasquez for Venezuela.
Dominican Republic – Italy 7-0
The Dominican Republic beat European champion Italy 7-0 on Sunday evening in Santiago, Panama. Starter Angel Castro de Orbe, Runelvys Hernandez and Dario Veras Abreu combined in a two-hit shutout, while striking out ten. Victor Mendez hit a grand slam during a five-run seventh. Tiago Da Silva took the loss for Italy.
Notes
Former Major Leaguer Larry Walker is still the hitting coach for Team Canada. He could join the squad on their trip to the PanAm Games after the completion of the Baseball World Cup….Italy is the reigning European Champion….Germany’s starting lineup today featured seven current and former professional players: Kai Gronauer, Donald Lutz, Ludwig Glaser, Michael Franke, Simon Gühring, Max Kepler-Rozycki and Martin Dewald….Panama and Greece had an off day after playing in the opening game on Saturday
Outlook
Eight games are on the schedule for day three of the IBAF Baseball World Cup. On Monday the fans highly anticipate the clash between Cuba and the Dominican Republic in Chitre in the evening. Both teams celebrated shutouts on Sunday and try to make a statement in this key Group 2 matchup. Other games in this pool will be Italy vs. Australia, Korea vs. Germany and Nicaragua vs. Venezuela. In Group 1 the Netherlands will face Greece in a European duel and host Panama returns to the stage against Chinese Taipei. Also on the schedule USA vs. Puerto Rico and Canada vs. Japan
Schedule
14h00 Canada – Japan
14h00 Netherlands – Greece
14h00 Cuba – Dominican Republic
14h00 Italy – Australia
19h30 USA – Puerto Rico
19h30 Chinese Taipei – Panama
19h30 Korea – Germany
19h30 Nicaragua – Venezuela
(local times Panama)
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