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| Ronald Acuña Jr. / Photo: Getty Images |
On March 10 (KST), Venezuela blanked Nicaragua 4-0 in a first-round Group D game at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.
After wins over the Netherlands (6-2) and Israel (11-3), Venezuela completed a three-game sweep by beating Nicaragua and clinched a spot in the quarterfinals.
Venezuela will now face the other 3-0 team, the Dominican Republic, on March 12 to decide the group winner. The winner will finish first in Group D and face Group C’s No. 2 seed, South Korea, in the quarterfinals; the loser will meet Group C’s top seed, Japan.
The offense was driven by star Ronald Acuña Jr., who went 3-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs, two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base.
Starter Yoendrys Gómez worked two scoreless innings, and Keider Montero added three scoreless frames to help lock down the victory.
Nicaragua finished the pool 0-4 and last in Group D.
Venezuela seized control from the outset. In the top of the first, Acuña drew a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error, and Jackson Chourio’s sacrifice fly produced the opening run.
In the top of the third, with two outs, Acuña launched a solo home run. In the top of the fifth, with two outs and runners at first and third, he delivered an RBI single.
Leading 3-0, Venezuela put the game away in the top of the sixth when Willier Abreu’s sacrifice fly with one out and runners on first and third added an insurance run.
[Sports Today reporter Kang Tae-gu sports@stoo.com]
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