World Classic: The Netherlands celebrates victory against Panama and remains unstoppable

The Netherlands once again stole the spotlight of the World Classic, after beating Panama (3-1) on Thursday, maintaining an undefeated status and extending its stay at the top of the A key of the baseball contest. The Dutch team archived its second consecutive success to confirm itself as the "lion" of the group and spoil the start of ...

The Netherlands once again stole the spotlight of the V World Classic, after beating Panama (3-1) on Thursday.

The Netherlands once again stole the spotlight of the

V World Classic,

after beating Panama (3-1) on Thursday, maintaining an undefeated status and extending its stay at the top of the A key of the baseball contest.

The Dutch team archived its second consecutive success to ratify itself as the "lion" of the group, set foot and a half in Tokyo -home of the second phase- and spoil the dream start of the Panamanians.

With the wisdom of manager Hensley Muelens, the tulips solved another tight game to leave mentor Luis Ortiz's squad without options, who the day before expressed to Prensa Latina his interest in beating the favorite squad in the segment, according to specialists' criteria .

The winners defined the duel in drops: one run per capita in

innings

three, five and eight, with the power of their men present on the ground at the Taichung Intercontinental Stadium.

The stellar Xander Bogaerts (4-3, 1CI, 2CA, 1HR), of the San Diego Padres, hit a 374-foot home run and a 99.8-mph exit velocity, to open the scoreboard against pitches from starter Jaime Barría ( 0-1, 2.2, 1C, 4H, 1K, 2 BB), ultimately the loser of the clash.

The difference grew after Jurickson Profar's homer (3-2, 1CI, 1CA, 1HR), while Bogaerts himself scored in the epilogue to score more distance against an opponent who knew how to get closer in the sixth inning.

The Europeans fired eight hits and reached 18 innings without making a mistake on the defense, while the Isthmians computed seven hits and a mistake in fielding actions.

The success was in the history of the veteran Shairon Martis (3.1, 0C, 3H, 4K, 2BB), the defeat of the aforementioned Barría and the closer Wendell Floranaus (2JS, 1.0, 0C, 0H, 1BB) saved for the second date in line.

After this result, the Netherlands leads the section with a couple of victories without setbacks, ahead of Panama (1-1) and waiting for the top Cuba (0-1)-Italy (0-0) on the day off for the home Chinese Taipei (0-1).

Australia beat favorite South Korea 8-7

Before the incredulous gaze of fans and specialists,

Australia beat favorite South Korea (8-7) on Thursday

to upset the plans of group B on its opening day in the Classic.

Although

in extremis

and suffered in the last bars, the victory was a transcendental step in the aspirations of the oceanic in a bracket that also welcomes China, the Czech Republic and Japan, local and top candidate to lead the tie.

In the Tokyo Dome, the game had high doses of drama, as the winners trailed 2-4 at the height of the sixth inning, but Robbie Glendinning and Robie Perkins hit three-run homers to turn the story around in its epilogue.

Without a doubt, the third player Glendinning (4-1, 3CI, 1CA, 1HR, 2K) and the eighth Perkins (3-1, 3CI, 2CA, 1HR) were the undisputed heroes in one of Australia's most important triumphs in Classics World Cups (WBC).

Against the wall in the midst of despair, the Asian squad discounted three lines in the eighth

inning

and came very close to equalizing the score;

however, the pitching of the victors held on stoically to seal their third conquest against 10 setbacks in this contest.

Fourth reliever Jon Kennedy (1-0, 0.1, 0C, 0H) scored with just one out on the stat sheets;

Joshua Guyer (1JS, 1.0, 0C, 1H) closed the fight at full speed and Kim Won Jung (0-1, 1.0, 1C, 1H, 2K) left the facility crestfallen after failing in the role of rescuer.

Thus, Australia (1-0) momentarily commands the segment, while at night (7:00 p.m., local time) China (0-0) will collide against Japan (0-0) on a rest day for the rookie Republic Czech (0-0).

According to reports, the Japanese squad will place the outstanding Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels) on the mound, who will also be part of the offensive lineup and is considered the great star of WBC 2023, along with American Mike Trout.

(With information from Prensa Latina)

Daily News

World Classic: The Netherlands celebrates victory against Panama and remains unstoppable

Australia beat favorite South Korea 8-7

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