Venezuela at the top of Group A, Panama and the US seek to displace the Netherlands in the Premier12

(Press Release; WBSC AMERICAS BASEBALL).- The Premier12 continued with victories for the United States against Panama and the Netherlands against Puerto Rico, which leave Venezuela as the only American team in the qualification for Japan at this time.

The United States jumped ahead with seven runs against Panama in the first two innings that helped them eventually win by a score of 9 to 3 and leave their rival with a 2-2 record.

Rodrigo Orozco went 3-for-4 with runs scored and RBIs, while Jhonny Santos went 2-for-4 with runs scored and RBIs to become the team's offensive spark plugs.

For its part, the Netherlands defeated Puerto Rico by knockout in seven innings 20 to 8 to climb to the top of the Group A table along with Venezuela.

Didi Gregorius went 4 for 6 with four runs scored and three RBIs, while Jonathan Schoop went 3 for 4 with three runs scored and four RBIs, Hendrik Celementina also went 3 for 5 with four runs scored and five RBIs.

Puerto Rico and Mexico will play vital matches for their qualification options this Wednesday against Venezuela and the Netherlands respectively, in which they cannot give up.

Puerto Rico goes with left-hander Luis Cruz against right-hander Max Castillo of Venezuela, while Mexico brings right-hander Jorge Pérez to the mound to face right-hander Lars Huijer of the Netherlands.

Meanwhile the action kicked off for the Americas teams in the Group Round in Taipei, the Dominican Republic beat Cuba by a score of 6 to 1. Kelvin Gutierrez batted 2-for-4 with a run scored and two batted in. Ricardo Cespedes went 2-for-2 with two runs scored.

(Media Department; Guillermo Yáber Llanos)