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Premier12, First Round, Pool B: USA – Venezuela 5-7
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Venezuela captured its first win at the Premier12 on Wednesday, winning a rain-delayed afternoon game at Taoyuan Stadium against the United States with 7-5. Venezuela scored five runs in the fourth and fifth combined to erase an early 0-2 deficit en route to the victory. Both teams are now 1-1 in first-round play in Pool B.
Team USA had the better start into the game and took a quick 2-0 after three innings. Bret Eibner drove in Brett Phillips with a single in the first. Dan Black doubled the score with a solo shot in the third. But Venezuela fought back. Luis Jimenez singlehandedly brought the South Americans back into the game.
In the fourth Jimenez tied the game with a two-run home run. In the fifth he first gave Venezuela a 4-2 advantage with a two-run double and then scored a run number fifth on a throwing error during a stolen base attempt.
Eibner put the US back within a run thanks to a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth. However RBI singles by Frank Diaz and again Jimenez gave Venezuela some insurance in the seventh. Jacob May delivered the last run to the scoreboard with a solo shot in the bottom of the frame.
Jimenez finished the game by going 3-for-5 with five RBI and a triple shy of the cycle. Eibner had three RBI for the US.
Both starting pitchers left the game early due to the rain delay in the first. Anthony Vasquez had pitched around a one-out single in the top of the frame. Felipe Paulino conceded two hits, a run and a walk, while getting just one out before the delay. Yorman Bazardo bailed him out, when play resumed and got the win with four innings of relief. Fernando Nieve got the save. John Church got charged with the loss.
Venezuela is going to face South Korea on Thursday at Taoyuan Stadium in the afternoon. In the evening Team USA squares off against Mexico at Tienmu Stadium in Taipei City.