Five teams are vying to advance from Pool D of the World Baseball Classic at loanDepot park. Only two will reach the quarterfinals.
The four-game sprint to the quarterfinals began with the Netherlands and Venezuela. They opened pool play.
Match Details
The game took place on Friday at 12 p.m. ET at loanDepot park.
There was a free English-language audio stream available.
- Probable starting pitchers: RHP Antwone Kelly (Netherlands) vs. LHP Ranger Suarez (Venezuela)
What’s at Stake
Venezuela’s star-studded team includes Ronald Acuña Jr., Salvador Perez and Jackson Chourio. They are considered one of the favourites to advance from Pool D along with the Dominican Republic.
The Netherlands are managed by Hall of Famer Andruw Jones. Their roster includes big league names Xander Bogaerts, Ozzie Albies and Ceddanne Rafaela. They are aiming to make things difficult for the rest of the pool.
Previous Meeting
The two teams have only met once before in WBC history. Venezuela beat the Netherlands, 3-1, in the second round of the 2009 event.
Miguel Cabrera, who is the hitting coach for this year’s Venezuelan team, broke a 1-1 tie with a home run in the fourth inning. That proved to be the game-winner.
Looking Ahead
The Netherlands and Venezuela are hoping to play in next week’s quarterfinals.