Venezuela beat Korea, tie them at 3-1 in Group B

World No. 5 Venezuela beat No. 6 Korea 8-4 and tied them at 3-1 in Group B of the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024. Three Venezuelan pitchers limited Korea to four hits, giving them the first defeat. Korea and Venezuela are now tied at 3-1 in Group B.

Korea took the lead in the bottom of the second. Donghyun Kim doubled against Miguel Olivares to lead off the at-bat. He advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Siang Kim's sacrifice fly.

Dobeen Kim took the mound for Korea in the third inning.

Venezuela took the lead in the top of the fourth. Pedro Martinez and Gilbert Medina reached on back-to-back singles. With the runners at the corners, Dobeen Kim allowed the tying run on a wild pitch. He left for Juhwan Son after allowing a walk.

Venezuela moved the runner with a sacrifice bunt, and both scored on Daniel Castillo's RBI single and a passed ball. Castillo advanced to second on the passed ball and scored on Lewis Castillo's RBI single.

Venezuela was not done. Brainer Bonaci turned Son's fourth pitch in a double to centre field and extended the lead to 5-1. Baeksam Kim took the mound to take Korea out of the inning.

Pedro Martinez led off the fifth with a single. He stole second, advanced to third on a flyout to right field and scored on Gilbert Medina's RBI single, making it a 6-1 game.

Korea cut the gap in the bottom of the fifth against reliever Cristian Fermin. Siang Kim led off with a double. Fermin loaded the bases with a walk and a hit batter and left for Adrian Luna. The reliever got the first out on strikes, then allowed a two-RBI single to Hyunjong Kim.

Donghyun Kim led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and left for pinch runner Jinhyung Kim. The newcomer advanced on a passed ball, reached third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.

Venezuela opened the score with two runs in the top of the seventh against Jiheon Han, Korea's seventh pitcher, who walked a batter, hit another and gave up a two-RBI single to Lewis Castillo.

Adrian Luna retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Venezuela (3-1) will close the Opening Round facing No. 3 Chinese Taipei. Korea (3-1) will open the day facing No. 17 Nicaragua.