World No. 5 USA earned their first win in the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS Super Round, defeating No. 4 Venezuela 6-5 in a thriller.
The game was tied at five in the top of the ninth when designated hitter Ryan Ward won it with a solo shot off Venezuela's closer Enderson Franco.
"He got started me with a changeup," said Ward postgame. "I took a good look at it and sat on his heater. I had already missed one but got one down [in the zone] that I could get on top of. It was the moment of my life, and I got to share it with my teammates. Running the bases was unbelievable."
"Every game in this series was tough," added manager Mike Scioscia. "I think we played very well tonight. Of course, the big home run by Ryan won us the game."
The US had a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth, when Venezuela started a comeback pinch hitter Daniel Castillo completed with a three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth.
"I had anticipated that at-bat. I couldn't wait to get my chance in this game. When I stepped to the box, I was looking for a good pitch to hit," commented Castillo in the post-game press conference.
Venezuela played a mere 15 hours after suffering a tough loss aganst Japan on Friday night.
"It was not tough to get back on the field. This is why I'm so proud of this team," added manager Omar Lopez. "I call them my warriors. Today, they gave all they had; they did their best. Their starter [Touki Toussaint] was tough to face in the first part of the game. He kept the same hard angle, throwing a fastball or split-finger. Later, we had better at-bats and got back into the game. I think many didn't have expectations about us. We showed what Venezuela can do, and this tournament will be in our memories forever."
Jesus Vargas threw the first pitch at 12:00 (local time). Simpson Chandler singled on the fifth pitch of the game and stole second and third. He wouldn't run the final 90 feet.
The United States took the lead in the top of the second. Vargas allowed back-to-back walks to Termarr Johnson and Drake Baldwin to lead off the at-bat. Luke Ritter dropped a bunt for the hit to load the bases. Vargas got the first out on strikes, but Simpson got to him with an RBI single, putting the US ahead. Matt Shaw grounded into a force-out and Baldwin scored on the play.
US starter Touki Toussaint walked Carlos Eduardo Perez to lead off the bottom half of the inning, allowing Venezuela their first runner. Toussaint got Angel Reyes to ground into a double play to end the inning.
Shortstop Dixon Machado reached on a two-out single in the bottom of the third, recording the first Venezuelan hit. Alexi Amarista doubled off the right-field wall and brought him to third, but the scoring opportunity vanished when Hernan Perez grounded out to shortstop.
Matt Shaw doubled to lead off the fifth. Vargas finished his game by getting the first out on a fly, and Venezuela handed the ball to left-hander Liorvis Breto.
Toussaint walked Angel Reyes with his 56th pitch to lead off the fifth and left the mound to submarine right-hanser Antonio Menendez. The inning ended when Jermaine Palacios lined into a double play.
Anthony Vizcaya took the mound for Venezuela in the top of the sixth, and the US extended the lead. Drake Baldwin got to his fourth pitch and reached on a leadoff double. The right-hander walked Ritter, and the runners advanced on Justin Crawford's swinging bunt. Simpson lined out to centre field, and Baldwin scored on the sacrifice fly. Matt Shaw made it a 4-0 game with an RBI single.
Carson Williams followed with a double off the left-field wall, scoring Shaw and sending Vizcaya to the showers.
Venezuela handed the ball to Arnaldo Hernandez to get out of the inning.
Cameron Vieaux took the mound for the US with one out in the bottom of the sixth. He allowed a single to Alexi Amarista, walked Hernand Perez and gave up the first run to Venezuela when Herlis Rodriguez singled to right field. Vieaux got out of the inning when he got Carlos Eduardo Perez to ground into a double play.
In the bottom of the seventh Eric Adler replaced Vieaux. The US manufactured the fourth double play of their game to get two quick outs. First baseman Carlos Jesus Perez looked at a strike, then drove Adler's second pitch into the stands for a solo homer.
Darrell Thompson took the mound for the US in the bottom of the eighth and Venezuela tied the game. Hernan Perez reached on a one-out single. Carlos Eduardo Perez got to Thompson's second pitch and drove it off the left-field wall, bringing Hernan Perez to third. Pinch hitter Diego Castillo was all over a 1-2 fastball and turned it into a three-run homer.
Zane Mills got the third out of the eighth inning.
The US took the lead back in the top of the ninth. Enderso Franco struck out Carson Williams to start his game. Ryan Ward worked the count full and homered on Franco's sixth pitch.
Mills worked two quick outs in the botton of the ninth, then walked pinch-hitter Francisco Arcia and Alexi Amarista, putting the potential tying run in scoring position. The game ended when Hernan Perez popped out to first base.
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