(Press Release; WBSC AMERICAS BASEBALL).- The South American U18 tournament started with the victory of Venezuela against Brazil, in the opening game of the competition that takes place in Salta, Argentina.
Venezuela scored two in the second inning and four in the fifth, in addition to containing a threat from Brazil in the bottom of the seventh inning, to take the 6-2 victory.
Heizon Cardozo pitched six dominant innings against Brazil to achieve the victory, allowing three hits, no runs or walks, in addition to striking out five. Ricardo Velasco got his teammates out of trouble in the bottom of the seventh inning by striking out two batters with a walk, for the save.
Offensively, Germain Ávila stood out, going 4 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBIs with a home run, to lead Venezuela to victory in their debut in the tournament.
Meanwhile, in the hosts' debut in the tournament, Argentina needed only five innings to knock out Peru 14-0 and also start with a victory in the tournament.
Three Argentine pitchers limited Peru to three hits, two walks and six strikeouts, with Nicolás Hiki taking the win. Offensively, Gabriel Barreto stood out, going 1-for-1 with one run scored and three RBIs, while Garuzzo Lorenzo went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
On Tuesday there will be a duel of undefeated teams between Argentina, which will be a visitor against Venezuela in the afternoon, while in the morning, Brazil will visit Peru, both seeking their first victory in the tournament.
(Media Department; Guillermo Yáber Llanos)
