The Dominican Republic team defeated Venezuela 7-5 this Wednesday. They won Group D after the match played at LoanDepot Park in Miami and sent Venezuela to play against Japan in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic. The quisqueyanos, led by Albert Pujols, secured first place in the series, which gives them the right to face South Korea next Friday the 13th in the same Florida venue, while the vinotintos will face Shohei Ohtani and company the next day. In the top of the first inning, Juan Soto hit a home run off Venezuelan pitcher Eduardo Rodríguez, scoring another run from Ketel Marte, putting the initial score at 2-0 for Pujols's team. The Venezuelans, led by Omar López, cut the deficit in the bottom of the same inning with a single hit by Willson Contreras to right field, which Maikel García used to reach home plate. The top of the third was very good for the team from the land of merengue and bachata as they scored two more runs: 3-1 thanks to a home run by Marte, followed by another from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for 4-1. In the bottom of the third, Venezuela cut the deficit twice. The first through Ronald Acuña Jr. after a hit by Maikel García to make it 4-2, and the second by a run from the same García after a hit by Luis Arráez. But in the top of the fourth, Fernando Tatis Jr. had something to say, and he said it with a home run that also pushed Austin Wells and Geraldo Perdomo to make it 7-3 on the scoreboard. It wasn't until the bottom of the ninth that Venezuela brought some suspense to the end of the game. Jackson Chourio reached home plate after Arráez's hit, and Acuña Jr. took advantage of a series of Dominican errors to score the 7-5. But a double play by Pujols's team closed the curtain at LoanDepot Park, which was witness to this Group D final (which also included Israel, the Netherlands, and Nicaragua) between traditional rivals of the Caribbean Series. Canada makes history Canada defeated Cuba 7-2 this Wednesday, eliminating them from the Classic, and qualified for the quarterfinals for the first time. Additionally, they finished as leaders of Group A ahead of Puerto Rico in a match played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan. The Puerto Rican team, with a record of three wins and one loss, although they had already been classified in advance to the next phase of the tournament, finished second in that zone. With the win over Cuba, Canada will play this Saturday in Houston for the quarterfinals against the United States, second in Group B. Italy, leader and with a record The Italy team confirmed their dominance over Mexico by defeating them 9-1 to qualify as leader of Group B, and will play this Saturday against Puerto Rico also in Houston. This was the third victory for the Italians over the Mexicans in three appearances in the competition. The fourth batter, Vinnie Pasquantino, became the first batter to hit three home runs in a Classic game to lead the Italian attack, which ran over a rival poor in offense, terrible in pitching, and hesitant in defense. World Baseball Classic quarterfinal matches: – Friday, March 13: South Korea – Dominican Republic in Miami United States – Canada in Houston – Saturday, March 14: Puerto Rico – Italy in Houston Venezuela – Japan in Miami. Photo EFE.
