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Luis Arráez just absolutely crushes a two-run home run and this is just a one-run game already again. This is definitely a faster-paced game than yesterday’s.
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USA 3-0 Venezuela, top 1st inning
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Kyle Tucker singles in the third run of the inning. Venezuela challenges the call that Tucker is safe at second and the challenge is successful so at least there’s the first out but that’s three runs on the board and there’s still a runner on third base with just one out.
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USA 2-0 Venezuela, top 1st inning
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Goldschmidt hits a single and that scores Trout from third base. This is quite a start!
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USA 1-0 Venezuela, top 1st inning
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Almost immediately afterward, Mike Trout hits a single, Betts makes it to third… and then gets waved home after a throwing error by Ronald Acuña Jr. The USA almost immediately take a one-run lead!
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USA 0-0 Venezuela, top 1st inning
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Martín Pérez throws the first pitch and it’s a strike to Mookie Betts! 0-1.
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Key events
USA 3-2 Venezuela, 2nd 2nd inning
The camera captures a man in a Bald Eagle uniform, so there is at least one Team USA superfan. David Peralta is here batting for Venezuela, he grounds out for the first out.
USA 3-2 Venezuela, first 2nd inning
Trout leads the count at 2-1 and takes a healthy hack, just off Ruiz’s field. 2-2. On the next roll, Trout strikes.
We had a half inning with no runs!
USA 3-2 Venezuela, first 2nd inning
Betts grounds in a double play. There’s a runner on third base, but now two outs in the inning. Venezuela will get that every time.
USA 3-2 Venezuela, first 2nd inning
Trea Turner’s turn, with a runner on second base. He takes the lead in the score 3-1. Mookie Betts, who just opened this game, is already on deck.
Turner takes ball four. Runners on first and second, none out.
USA 3-2 Venezuela, first 2nd inning
7 hits, 5 runs in the first inning. Let’s see if things calm down here in the second. JT Realmuto gets up and goes down 0-2 against Ruiz. There is a short talk with catcher Salvador Perez to make sure he wasn’t injured by a foul ball before the third pitch in the at bat.
After all that, Realmuto waves Realmuto’s field into the outfield for a double. The hits just keep on coming.
USA 3-2 Venezuela, 2nd 1st inning
Ronald Acuña Jr lines up to Trout at center to end the inning, but we definitely have a game here! The final score could be about 10-9, that’s my prediction.
USA 3-2 Venezuela, 2nd 1st inning
Salvador Perez also hits one long, but it stays in the park for a loud swipe. Two down.
2-run home run (Luis Arráez, USA 3-2 Venezuela)
USA 3-2 Venezuela, 2nd 1st inning
Luis Arráez just absolutely crushes a two run home run and this is another one run game. This is definitely a faster game than yesterday’s.
USA 3-0 Venezuela, 2nd 1st inning
Anthony Santander throws one up for the first from the bottom of the first.
USA 3-0 Venezuela, 2nd 1st inning
You’ll never believe what José Altuve does to start the bottom of the first: He gets a single. This can be an attack-heavy game.
Email from Joel Eley:
Hello Hunter from Jakarta. I totally understand your opinion of Mr. Trout, but think Ronald Acuna Jr. has to chew on the bit after missing out on the Braves World Series win through injury. Anyway, there is so much talent on both teams that there should be a lot of hits and neither side has a real asset to start. I’d also like to see Santander get big because he’s from the Orioles and thought last season was a little strange because he was suddenly almost relevant again.
Hope for a good match.
All the best Joel
Well, we sure have a lot of hits to start with here! Five consecutive, so I’m going to say part of your prediction was right with Joel.
USA 3-0 Venezuela, first 1st inning
Ruiz gets Kyle Schwarber to jump to left field and we finally end the inning. Ruiz puts out the fire, but Venezuela is down early and will have to draw inspiration from Mexico’s come-from-behind victory yesterday.
USA 3-0 Venezuela, first 1st inning
José Ruiz is now in the game for Venezuela, probably the right move considering that Pérez had nothing. He manages to get Tim Anderson to strike out for the second out.
RBI single (Kyle Tucker, USA 3-0 Venezuela)
USA 3-0 Venezuela, first 1st inning
Kyle Tucker singles in the third run of the inning. Venezuela disputes the call that Tucker is safe at second and the challenge is successful, so at least there’s the first out, but that’s three runs on the board and there’s still a runner on third base with only one out.
USA 2-0 Venezuela, first 1st inning
Nolan Arenado singles. Man Pérez just can’t get out of this. Runners on first and third!
RBI Single (Paul Goldschmidt, USA 2-0 Venezuela)
USA 2-0 Venezuela, first 1st inning
Goldschmidt singles and Trout scores from third base. This is a very start!
Run on a single and a fault! (Mike Trout, USA 1-0 Venezuela)
USA 1-0 Venezuela, first 1st inning
Almost immediately after, Mike Trout singles, Betts moves into third… then is waved home on a throwing error by Ronald Acuña Jr. The USA almost immediately takes a lead of one point!
USA 0-0 Venezuela, first 1st inning
Mookie Betts leads off with a single!
First throw
USA 0-0 Venezuela, first 1st inning
Martín Pérez throws the first pitch and it’s a hit for Mookie Betts! 0-1.
We have real live coverage! Kenny Albert and John Smoltz are in conversation. I also just realized Kenny Albert is Marv Albert’s son at this point. Nepo babies are everywhere!
SPOILER ALERT: That’s it. (Okay, they went with “Dusty Baker gets World Series ring,” which I think counts.)
I bet the first postseason moment of 2022 will be the Houston Astros winning the World Series.
Did I mention that the winner of the USA against Venezuela will face Cuba in the semifinals tomorrow? That feels like an important detail that I just totally sniffed at, but it’s something that will indeed happen.
You can tell there’s absolutely no respect for the World Baseball Classic as there’s no pointless pregame chatter on FOX before the start of this game. Instead, we get a compilation of 2022 MLB postseason highlights.
Predictions
Venezuela is the favored team in this match, especially as the US struggled even to get out of the pool game. However, I just think the US will fight through the collective indifference of their compatriots and destroy Venezuela’s dreams.
My reason? Mike Forel. After being stuck with the Los Angeles Angels and thus banned from the MLB postseason, he longed for a chance to show off his generational talents in big games. I feel like he’s going to have a big moment today and the US is going to get a win.
Do you have a different opinion? Feel free to send it our way, by email to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com or via tweet to @HunterFelt and we’ll post them here and see how they hold up. (I realize this can actually be a discouragement.)
Venezuela setup
1. Josh Altuve, 2B
2.Anthony Santander, RF
3. Luis Arraez, 1B
4. Salvador Perez, C
5. Ronald Coin Jr., CF
6. David Peralta, F
7. Eugenio Suarez, 3B
8. Gleyber Torres, DH
9. Andres Gimenez, SS
Starting pitcher: Martin Perez
American lineup
1. Mookie Betts, RF
2. Mike Forel, CF
3.Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
4.Nolan Areando, 3B
5. Kyle Tucker, L.F
6.Tim Anderson, 2B
7. Kyle Schwarber, DH
8. JT Realmuto, C
9. Trea Turner, SS
Starting pitcher: Lance Lynn
Preamble
Welcome to the final match of the 2023 WBC quarter-finals. Tonight’s game is about the United States against Venezuela for the right to face Cuba in tomorrow’s semi-final. Team USA narrowly came out of Pool C, making them the underdog against an undefeated Venezuelan team that has scored 23 points and allowed only nine.
Today’s expected starting pitchers are Martín Pérez, currently with the Texas Rangers, and the venerable Lance Lynn, now with the Chicago White Sox. Starting to pitch will be key here, of course, but one wonders if there’s an x-factor at play: which team has more on the line? While Team USA cared enough to bring out a stacked lineup, there’s no doubt there’s an enthusiasm gap between the countries these teams play in.
When Edwin Díaz suffered a bizarre injury while celebrating Puerto Rico’s victory over the Dominican Republic, there was an inevitable backlash from MLB fans angry that such a key player was injured in what was dismissed as an “exhibition game” instead of during spring training. (never mind this consists of nothing but exhibition games). While these games get high ratings outside of the US, here in the States it’s almost impossible to find the scores in the avalanche of college basketball results.
Well, they miss. Mexico’s comeback victory over Puerto Rico was an absolute thriller, one that was only decided in the last out. Now that the pool game is over, the World Baseball Classic features some of the best baseball players on the literal planet playing win-or-go home games in a postseason atmosphere. It only happens once every four years and we should celebrate.
Do you want to sing along? This blog is partly yours, as we’d love to use your questions, comments, and the like throughout today’s game. You can send them to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com if you prefer email or maybe tweet them at @HunterFelt if you happen to use the Dying Bird site.
It’s USA vs. Venezuela at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida. The game kicks off at 7pm EST and will air in prime time on FOX in the Americas. Before then, we’re back here in The Guardian with lineups, predictions and other important stuff (and maybe a few non-important ones too).
Hunter will be here in a minute. In the meantime, here’s a look back at Mexico’s victory over Puerto Rico on Friday night.