(Press Release; WBSC-AMERICAS BASEBALL).- The Venezuelan national team swept the opening day of the ALBA Games, catapulted by the extraordinary performance of Wikleman Ramírez who threw a perfect game.
The first two matches of the ALBA Games baseball tournament were held at the Jorge Luis García Carneiro stadium in La Guaira, with a 4-2 victory for the Vintonito Team from Venezuela against Cuba and another 2-0 victory for the Blue Team from Venezuela against Nicaragua.
In the 4-2 victory against Cuba, Venezuela Vinotinto took advantage of a two-run rally in the first inning, one in the third and another in the sixth.
Offensively Rainier Rivas went 1-for-3 with a run scored, Antoni Flores went 1-for-3 with a run driven in and Brandon Linares went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI.
On the mound Gregori Arrieche got the win by pitching four scoreless innings with three hits and three strikeouts. Three other relievers contributed, including Miguel Padilla who saved the game by throwing a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.
On the other hand, in the 2-0 victory of the Venezuela Azul team against the Nicaraguan squad, it was enough with two runs in the fifth, with an inspired Wikleman Ramírez on the mound.
The right-hander got the victory by working the entire route, seven innings in which he did not allow runners on base with nine strikeouts to highlight the victory with a perfect game.
Offensively, it was enough with the work of Wuilman Velásquez who went 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, Jhon Solarte also contributed going 1-for-3 with a run scored.
On Sunday, the TBV Vinotinto team will face Nicaragua as visitors for the first game of the day and TBV Azul will also be a visitor against Cuba in the night game.
(Media Department; WBSC-AMERICAS BASEBALL)
