Colombia come from behind to beat Great Britain, earn first win

World No. 11 Colombia earned the first WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024 success with a 6-4 comeback win over Great Britain in the second game on Field 2 at the Shaoxing Baseball & Softball Sports Centre in China on Saturday.

The Britons thrived on walks to get ahead and surrendered the lead in a wild bottom of the fourth. The two teams combined 13 walks.

Great Britain took the lead in the top of the second. Colombia's starter Manuel Rumbos loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter and left for Kevin Gomez.

The right-hander retired the side in order. The first out, Matthew Ward, was productive. The catcher's sacrifice gave Great Britain the first run of the game.

Wallace Clark led off the third with a double and scored on a two-out single by Tucker Stockman.

Colombia got on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the frame. Nolan Beltran walked and stole second. Andres Murillo gave Colombia the first run with their first hit of the game, an RBI double off starter Colin Lebel.

Great Britain added a run in the top of the fourth. Jacob Lambdin led off with a double. Benjamin Leid brought him to third with a single. Lambdin scored on Ward's second sacrifice fly of the day.

Colombia reversed the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Guillermo Quintana led off with a double and scored on a single by Andrey Martinez. Lebel loaded the bases on walks and allowed a run on a wild pitch.

Jacob Lambdin took over but couldn't change the course. He allowed three more runs on walks. Cameron Moore came out of the bullpen and took care of the third out.

Great Britain cut the lead in the top of the sixth. Clark scored Benjamin Leid from second with a single.

Colombia (1-1) will face No. 24 China on Day 3. Great Britain (0-2) will play Puerto Rico.