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Netherlands 12, Israel 2 (F/8)
Netherlands
Xander Bogaerts: 1-3, 1 R, 2 BB
Wladimir Balentien: 3-4, 3 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB
Didi Gregorius: 2-3, 1 HR, 1 2B, 3 R, 5 RBI, 1 BB
Yurendell de Caster: 3-5, 2 R, 1 K
Jair Jurrjens (W): 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 5 K
Israel
Nate Freiman: 1-3, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI
Ryan Lavarnway: 0-2
Cody Decker: 0-1, 1 K
Ike Davis: 2-3, 1 2B
Corey Baker (L): 2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 0 K
Israel’s undefeated finally comes to an end in their second game of pool play, and it came to an end in a big way. The Netherlands team put a huge beating on Israel, invoking the mercy rule by the end. This may not be the last time these two teams play, however, as they are both 1-1 and it’s looking like a tiebreaker game is entirely possible for this pool.
Venezuela 4, Italy 3
Venezuela
Victor Martinez: 0-2, 2 BB, 1 K
Miguel Cabrera: 1-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI
Rougned Odor: 1-4, 1 R, 1 RBI
Jose Alvarado (W): 2.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 K
Italy
Tommy Layne: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
John Andreoli: 2-5, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 K
Alex Liddi: 1-4, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 RBI
Daniel Descalso: 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 E
Mike DeMark (BS, L): 0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 0 K
Some don’t believe that Venezuela, arguably the favorite in this pool, should have even been participating in this tiebreaker game after the controversy after their game with Mexico. They did play, though, and their ninth inning comeback allows them to advance into the second round. After Italy took a 2-1 lead in the seventh, it all came down to Venezuela’s powerful lineup in the final frame. Miguel Cabrera immediately started the inning with a leadoff solo blast to tie the game. After Victor Martinez walked, and Yangervis Solarte pinch ran for him, Rougned Odor hit another shot to center field. It was ruled not a home run, though, and while Solarte scored it was just a single for Odor, who’d assumed it was gone. He would end up coming around to score on a squeeze play anyway. An Alex Liddi leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth made it a one-run game again, but Italy couldn’t keep the rally going. It was a disappointing end result, but a strong overall effort in this tournament by Italy. Venezuela joins the U.S., the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico in the second round in San Diego.