The Netherlands had no chance at all in this Semi-Final against Venezuela.
The Orange Team was retired in order in four of the seven innings.
The team remained hitless in the first four innings in which it got only one baserunner.
In the entire game, the Netherlands got only four baserunners, two of which got into scoring position.
Henry Centeno dominated for Venezuela and went the distance.
The righthander never got into problems, threw 97 pitches and struckout six batters.
In the first game on Tuesday, Centeno threw the second inning and then was one of eight pitchers used by Manager José Alguacil.
The 26-year old Centeno plays professionally since 2011.
Since that year, he played in seven seasons (2011-2017) at the Rookie League and Single-A levels.
The first six of them in the organization of Tampa Bay Rays, the last season for Minnesota Twins.
Since the winterseason of 2016-2017, Centeno pitches in the Venezuelan Winter League.
Also this year, he plays in Mexico.
Starter for the Netherlands was former Major Leaguer Jair Jurrjens, who this year also plays in Mexico.
The 35-year old righthander threw in the Majors in (parts of) eight seasons (2007-2014) for Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles and Colorado Rockies and was 50-38 in 130 games.
Venezuela opened the score in the bottom of the first inning.
With one out, Hernán Pérez doubled, stole third base and scored on a 2-out single by Alexander Palma.
In the second inning, Venezuela got its lead-off runner on base, but the Orange defense then turned a double play.
The South American country then struck with five runs with two outs in the bottom of the third inning.
With one out, Alexi Amarista walked and with two outs, Jurrjens also walked Danry Vasquez.
Hereafter, Alexander Palma and Luis Sardińas both delivered runscoring singles.
That brought veteran Robinson Chirinos in the batter's box.
The 37-year old catcher played nine seasons (2011, 2013-2020) in the Major League.
After making his debut with Tampa Bay Rays (2011), he played in six seasons for Texas Rangers.
He then played for Houston Astros (2019), but in 2020, he returned to Texas, who traded him during the season to New York Mets.
In February of this year, Chirinos signed a Minor League-contract with New York Yankees.
In Spring Training, he suffered a fractured right wrist after being hit by a pitch.
So far this this season, Chirinos played in twelve games for the Triple-A team of New York.
With two runners on base, Chirinos connected well on a delivery from Jurrjens and hit a 3-run homerun.
After Chirinos had homered, Lars Huijer took over the pitching for the Netherlands.
He closed with a strikeout and then added three strong innings.
The righthander retired the side in the fourth.
He then gave up a lead-off single in the fifth, but was then supported with a double play.
Huijer retired the side again in the sixth.
The Netherlands offense was retired in order in the first two innings.
In the top of the third inning, John Polonius led off with a walk.
With two outs, he advanced on a wild pitch, but then stranded on second base.
After the team was retired in order again in the fourth, it got its next (and final) runner in scoring position in the fifth.
Lead-off hitter Yurendell de Caster was hit by a pitch and with one out, John Polonius hit a comeback infield-hit, which was the first Orange-basehit.
The inning ended when next batter Sicnarf Loopstok grounded into a double play.
With one out in the sixth inning, Roger Bernadina singled to account for the second Netherlands-basehit.
He was left behind on first base.
After the Netherlands was retired in order in the top of the seventh, Venezuela reached a mercy-rule run-difference moments later with no outs.
In the bottom of the seventh, Kevin Kelly took over the Orange-pitching.
He gave up a lead-off single to Gorkys Hernández, then Engelb Vielma followed with a homerun.
When Kelly walked next batter Alexi Amarista, a new pitching change followed.
Juan Carlos Sulbaran took over, but on his third delivery, Hernán Pérez hit a walk-off, 2-run homerun!
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Netherlands eliminated for Olympics after mercy-rule loss vs. Venezuela
PUEBLA (Mexico) -
The Netherlands Baseball Team was eliminated for the Olympic Games on Friday-evening (June 25) after being shutout 10-0 in seven innings by Venezuela on Day 4 of the WBSC Baseball Final Qualifier in Puebla (Mexico).
The event began on Tuesday-evening with a 10-7 win for the Dominican Republic against Venezuela.
The next day, the Netherlands lost its first game to Venezuela with a 9-3 score.
On Thursday, the Orange Team lost 4-3 in a thriller against the Dominicans.
861st international game of the Netherlands Baseball Team.