Venezuela defeated Japan 7–1 to finish the Opening Round atop Group B at the U-23 Baseball World Cup in Nicaragua, closing the first phase with a 5-0 record.
The squad entered the tournament as part of a field that included defending champion Japan, which won the previous title in China in 2024. Venezuela played as the visiting team in the contest at Estadio Roberto Clemente.
Venezuela jumped on Japanese starting pitcher Kodai Mori immediately in the first inning at Estadio Roberto Clemente, plating five runs before the side was retired. Joan Delgado drew a hit-by-pitch to start the frame, followed by walks to Byron Chourio and Lewis Castillo.
Johnfrank Salazar drove in the game’s first run with a single, Diego González lifted a sacrifice fly, and both Giovanni Rivero and Brailyn Antúnez hit doubles to cap the outburst, according to El Emergente. Venezuela added single runs in the second and sixth innings as part of its 11-hit offensive output.
More runs for Venezuela! 🔥🇻🇪 WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup presented by RAXUS#BaseballWorldCupU23 pic.twitter.com/VfTQx1poSV
The early offensive onslaught chased Mori early and gave the South American side a comfortable cushion. SwingCompleto reported that the Venezuelan lineup finished the contest with 11 hits, including four doubles. Antúnez drove in two runs, while Salazar went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Joan Delgado finished with a 2-for-2 day at the plate alongside two runs scored.
Venezuelan pitching allowed just a single run across 29 innings of Opening Round play. Andrés Parra started on the mound and worked two innings, surrendering the lone Japanese run on a hit and striking out two batters, as noted by Meridiano. Josbel García took over in relief to earn the win.
Manager Néstor Corredor utilized six total pitchers to silence the Japanese bats, holding the reigning champions to four hits. Natsuki Fujiwara provided the primary resistance for Japan with a double and a home run. Josbel Daniel García Freites earned the victory, while Kodai Mori took the loss.
Juan Rojas, Saúl García, Rikiel Tineo, and Miguel Mejías also saw action on the mound, with Saúl García, Riskiel Tineo, and Miguel Mejías combining for four strikeouts over the final three frames.
The squad awaits its next opponent on Friday.
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