Venezuela clinch Super Round spot with 11-0 win against the Netherlands

Ehire Adrianza homered twice in Thursday's opening game leading Venezuela to an 11-0 win against the Netherlands and sending his team to the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS Super Round. Venezuela finished Group A in first place with a 4-1 record and became the first team to confirm their Super Round spot in Tokyo, Japan.

"We are happy. We're going to Japan, and we just have to stay united as we are, catch that flight to Japan, and focus on the finals," said Venezuela's manager Omar Lopez.

Venezuela started the game with four runs on three hits in the first inning, including a double by Alexi Amarista to lead off the game, a single by Hernan Perez and a two-run double by Ehire Adrianza. Jermaine Palacios drew a bases loaded walk and Diego Castillo hit a sac fly to drive in the other two runs.

The first inning set the tone for the Venezuelan lineup, which totalled 14 hits in the game. In the third they mounted another four-run rally, with home runs by Herlis Rodriguez and Adrianza.

Hernan Perez and Adrianza homered in the fourth and fifth, while Venezuela added one more in the sixth on a Dixon Machado single.

"I'm truly grateful for wearing this Venezuelan jersey. Today was very special for me - we qualified for the next round," said Adrianza. "It’s not about me, it’s about Venezuela, a group of guys who have had great chemistry from day one, supporting each other, and honestly, we have an amazing team. Today, we celebrate, but we’re not done yet."

Venezuela secured a place in the top four of the Premier12 2024, which represents their best ever performance in this competition. Asked about the planning for next week, Lopez said that his team is already working on it. 

"At 4am, Gerardo Parra got up and said, 'Man, I’m already watching the game in Taipei.' Two people, Rafael Yañez and Francisco Cartaya, went to bed at 1 in the morning after preparing the report on the Netherlands and then they got up at 4 in the morning to watch the Taipei games," said Lopez. "That shows you the commitment; they’re already preparing to give us the information."

Claiming one of the four Super Round spots means Venezuela will equal or surpass their previous best international baseball result having a semifinal defeat in the World Baseball Classic 2009 against Korea to their name.