The Netherlands continued their impressive performance at the World Cup of Baseball. They defeated Venezuela 7-4 to get their third win. They are now near the top of the standings in group B.
The Dutch scored early and led 6-3 after three innings. Both clubs brought another run on the board till the end.
Four hits by Rogeravin BERNADINA, Hainley STATIA, Sharnol ADRIANA and Dirk VAN’T KLOOSTER were responsible for three runs of the Netherlands in the first. However, the Venezuelans came right back in the bottom of the same frame. Manuel RAMIREZ connected on a two-run-homerun over the wall in left field. But the Dutch had more fire power on this Saturday.
Bryan ENGELHARDT and Roel KOOLEN reached home through hits by BERNADINA and Railey LEGITO in the second. Jose APONTE answered with a RBI-single to cut the deficit to 3-5. But Sidney DE JONG and ENGELHARDT added the sixth run only moments later.
Cijimengrez VAZQUEZ scored on a wild pitch in the fourth for the last run for Venezuela.
ENGELHARDT made it 7-4 in the eighth with a solo-homerun. It was his third hit of the day. He finished with two runs and two RBI. He had reached base four times (1b, 2b, hr, walk). DE JONG and VAN’T KLOOSTER had two hits apiece.
David BERGMAN allowed seven hits, four runs and two walks in 3 1/3 innings. Kenny BERKENBOSCH, who had pitched three days ago, did an excellent job as a reliever. He gave up only a base on balls in 3 1/3 innings for the win. Loek VAN MIL closed out the game with two perfect frames for the save. Overall it was a dominant effort by the Dutch bullpen.
Pablo MORALES (L 0-1) was charged for five runs on eight hits in 1 2/3 innings. Javier GARCIA relieved him with 6 1/3 strong innings. Carlos MORI followed him on the mound for Venezuela.
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