(Press Release; WBSC-AMERICAS BASEBALL).- The champion and runner-up teams in the category, the United States and Venezuela, will define the World Cup qualifier trophy this Sunday in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
For their part, Panama and Mexico will meet for the bronze medal, while Puerto Rico ends in fifth position and the Dominican Republic in seventh behind Cuba.
The United States entered the final first by beating Panama 13-0 by knockout in five innings. Offensively, Greyson Wuis stood out by going 1-for-3 with a run scored and four RBIs with a home run. While Leyland Henry also homered, scored two and drove in one. Boston Targac also homered after going 1-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs.
For its part, Venezuela also won by knockout in five innings, beating host Mexico with a score of 17-4. Willy Rodríguez excelled by winning the game pitching 4.2 innings of seven hits, four runs, two walks and seven strikeouts. But in addition, at the plate he hit two home runs, went 4-for-5 with four runs scored and eight RBIs.
Venezuela will be a visitor against the United States to define the gold medal on Sunday, while Panama will be a visitor against Mexico for the bronze.
Puerto Rico also defeated Cuba 11-3 to take fifth place in the World Cup qualifier tournament.
Yariel Alvarado stood out offensively by going 1-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs, Caleb Marcial shone on the mound only allowing three earned runs, two walks and two strikeouts with five hits in 2.1 innings and the winner was Diego Suárez who in 3.2 innings allowed two hits, no runs, a walk and six strikeouts.
The Dominican Republic took seventh place in the tournament by beating Brazil in four innings by knockout with a score of 15-0.
Raiyer González stood out by going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs, while Hairo Basallo went 1-for-2 with a run scored and two RBIs.
(Media Department; WBSC-AMERICAS BASEBALL)