Great Britain vs. Brazil
In this semi-final, Great Britain got close to its first run in the first inning when the speedy Champ Stuart tripled with two outs off of starter Andre Rienzo, but he was left behind.
Rienzo has pitched 42 games (split between starts and relief) in the Major League for Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins in 2013-2015.
This season, the righthander played at four different levels, mostly in Triple-A, in the Marlins-organization.
After both teams were retired in order in the second inning, it was Brazil that opened the score with two runs in the top of the third inning.
British starter Blake Taylor this year pitched at the Rookie League-level in the organization of the New York Mets.
The lefthander gave up a lead-off single to Fernando Luciano, but the British defense then turned a double play.
Hereafter, both Gabriel Maciel and Irait Chirino singled, resulting in runners at the corners.
Moments later, Chirino advanced on a wild pitch, then both scored when next batter Leonordo Reginatto also singled.
Reginatto stole third base, but stranded there.
Great Britain answered with three runs in its third at bat.
Chavez Young led off with a single and was awarded second base on a balk.
Kyle Simmons followed with a double and the bases got loaded when Antoan Richardson was hit by a pitch.
Hereafter, Andre Rienzo struckout Jasrado Chisholm and Champ Stuart, two of the speediest runners in the British squad, which became known for its speed during this event.
With two outs and the bases still loaded, a run was scored when Todd Isaacs was hit by a pitch on a full-count.
Next batter Jordan Serena then grounded to short stop Leonardo Reginatto, who could have forced out Isaacs to end the inning.
However, Reginatto bobbled the ball.
Speedsters Simmons and Richardson both scored, while Isaacs reached second base safely on the error and Serena reached first base on a fielder's choice.
As the ball was thrown to first base, Isaacs tried to advance to third base, but was eliminated there to end the inning.
But Great Britain now led 3-2.
...Chris Berset (#10) made an important...
...out to end the game...
...Here, he lines up during player...
...introductions at the European...
...Championship in the Netherlands...
(© Photo: Robert Bos) |
In the top of the fifth, Fernando Luciano led off with a walk and Lucas Rojo folllowed with a single for Brazil.
That led to a pitching change, as Chris Reed took over from starter Blake Taylor.
A sacrifice bunt-attempt by Gabriel Maciel ended up a pop-up into foul territory, then Reed struckout the next two batters to end the inning.
Brazil got another scoring opportunity in the sixth inning when Dante Bichette led off with a double and Juan Carlos Muñiz reached on an infield-hit.
They advanced on a sacrifice bunt, but were left behind when two pop-outs followed.
In the seventh inning, Brazil again failed to come alongside.
With one out, Gabriel Maciel walked and Bo Bichette singled.
A double-steal followed to put runners on second and third base with one out.
Maciel was then eliminated at the plate trying to score on a grounder towards short, then a force out ended the at bat.
Great Britain, which was retired in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth inning, added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
With one out, Albert Cartwright singled and moved on a wild pitch.
Hereafter, Chavez Young walked and Kyle Simmons followed with a runscoring single to make it a 4-2 score.
Brazil finally was able to do some scoring in the eighth inning.
With one out, Reinaldo Sato doubled, then scored when an error was made on a grounder by Luis Paz to narrow the deficit to 4-3.
Singles by Fernando Luciano and Lucas Rojo then loaded the bases with only one out.
The three runners were left behind when Chris Reed struckout the next two batters.
Great Britain left runners behind on first and second base in the bottom of the eighth, then Brazil got another opportunity to come alongside in the ninth.
But that inning (and the game) ended with a rare and surprising play.
With two outs, 40-year old, Cuban-born veteran Juan Carlos Muñiz doubled, which led to a pitching change.
Chris Reed, who had reached the limit of 85 pitches, was relieved by Daniel Cooper, who didn't face a batter, but was on the mound when the third out was made and was credited with a save.
Cooper's first pitch to next batter Reinaldo Sato was a strike.
His next one also was a strike, but at the same time, Muñiz (who represented the tying run) surprised everyone by taking off to steal third base.
Catcher Chris Berset didn't hesitate and threw the ball to third baseman Kyle Simmons, as Muñiz was caught stealing to end the game!
With that, Great Britain won to reach the Final, while Brazil was eliminated!
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Great Britain nips Brazil to become second finalist World Baseball Classic Qualifier
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CITY, New York (USA) -
Great Britain trailed 2-0, but came back to win 4-3 on Saturday (September 24) against Brazil in the semi-final of the fourth and final World Baseball Classic Qualifier.
With that, Great Britain became the second finalist and now will meet Israel in the all-deciding Final on Sunday-evening.
The event is played at MCU Park in Brooklyn, which is a borough of New York City.
MCU Park is the home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, which is a Single-A team of the New York Mets.