Preview: Netherlands, Venezuela open decisive Day 6 of Group A play at WBSC Premier12 2024

The No. 4 in the KONAMI/WBSC Men’s Baseball World Rankings, Venezuela, is facing No. 7 in a Group A matchup in the opening round of the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS on Thursday at 1pm local time at Estadio Panamericano Charros de Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Venezuelamade a big stride towards the Super Round by defeating Puerto Rico 5-2 onWednesday, improving to 3-1 in the standings in the opening round. TheNetherlands meanwhile were on the verge of tying Venezuela at the top of thestandings, leading 6-4 against Mexico on Wednesday evening, when a swing byJuan Perez lifted Mexico to an 8-6 victory in the eighth inning. Instead ofgoing to 3-1, the Dutch team dropped to 2-2 as one of four teams in thestandings.

The
Netherlands still showed a strong game against the hosts, overcoming an early0-4 deficit after the first inning. Thanks to the heroics from a couple timelyhits and six strong innings of relief by Kevin Kelly. The Dutch offensecontinued to hit, adding six more runs to their 37 leading the tournament. Theyare hitting .397/.431/.692 with a whopping 25 extra base hits among their62-hit total. Didi Gregorius is leading the way with ten hits, six runs scoredand four RBI. Brothers Sharlon and Jonathan Schoop have combined for 14 hits,eight runs scored and ten RBI.

Venezuelameanwhile is going to try to keep the juggernaut offense in check, counteringwith the second-best pitching staff in Group A with an ERA of 2.83 through thefirst four games. On Wednesday their bullpen was stellar by allowing just fourhits and four walks through 7 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, while combiningfor 11 strikeouts. At the plate Venezuela has scored 20 runs on a.273/.331/.430 batting line. They are lacking the power display compared to theNetherlands, but so far have found the holes in the opposing defense for thecrucial hits.

Both teamsare turning to their starting pitchers from opening day. Venezuela is hopingfor a repeat performance from Ricardo Pinto. He struck out six in fivescoreless three-hit, three-walk inning in a win over Mexico. The 30-year-oldright-hander, who pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies in Major LeagueBaseball this year, will be opposed by a fellow former big leaguer.

Shairon
Martis is taking the mound for the Netherlands, who pitched in 26 games in theMLB between 2008 and 2013. He didn’t fare as well as Pinto in his WBSCPremier12 2024 debut, conceding nine hits, seven runs and a walk in 3 1/3innings against Panama. He had a stronger season in the Dutch Hoofdklasse goinga perfect 12-0 for Neptunus with an ERA of 1.53 in 106 innings.

Venezuelais owning a 7-2 head-to-head record over the Netherlands in internationalcompetitions since 2011. Both programs already met twice this year in WBSCBaseball World Cups with Venezuela winning 10-9 at U-23 and 11-1 in U-15. Thelast Dutch win came last year at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup with an 8-2victory.