(Story by Marco Stoovelaar)
   Curaçao nips Venezuela in Central American & Caribbean Games
Nederlands
 SAN SALVADOR (El Salvador) -
The National Team of Curaçao nipped Venezuela 4-3 on a rainy Tuesday (June 27), Day 4 of the baseball-tournament at the 24th edition of the Central American and Caribbean Games, which is held in El Salvador.
Curaçao opened on Saturday with a 12-4 victory against host El Salvador, but on Sunday, the team lost 4-2 against Cuba.
On Monday, all four scheduled games were postponed due to rain, including the game of Curaçao against Mexico.
A make-up date has not yet been announced.
On Tuesday, which was another rainy day, the next game of Curaçao against Venezuela started later than scheduled due to the weather conditions.
The other three games on the schedule for Tuesday also began later.
The game on Tuesday at Parque de Pelota Saturnino Bengoa remained scoreless in the first five innings.
Curaçao then broke the scoreless tie with a 4-run rally in the top of the sixth inning.
New Venezuelan pitcher Carlos Valero ran into problems quickly.
He gave up a lead-off single to Andrelton Simmons, then following singles by Darren Seferina and Dudley Leonora led to the first run.
Next, Curaçao got the bases loaded when Raysheandall Michel walked.
That led to a pitching change.
Sonny Vargas took over, but he enabled Seferina to score the next run on a wild pitch.
With runners now on second and third base, a grounder by Alexander Rodriguez led to the first out, but also another pitching change.
The rule that a pitcher has to face at least three batters is not in effect during this tournament.
José Martínez took over, but he saw both Leonora and Michel score as well.
Martínez first gave up a sacrifice fly to Ericson Leonora, which brought in the third run, then a single by Roderick Bernadina made it a 4-0 score.
With two outs, Curaçao got another baserunner when Ulrich Snijders was awarded first base on catcher's interference by Mexican Home Plate Umpire Rafael Ramírez Cabrera, but the inning then ended when Rayshelon Carolina grounded out.
Ruderly Manuel started for Curaçao and gave up three hits in the four innings he was on the mound.
Cerilio Soleana then threw a scoreless fifth inning.
He went on to become the winning pitcher, as Curaçao then rallied for four runs in the sixth.
With a 4-0 lead, Chris Koeiman took over the pitching in the bottom of the sixth, but he encountered some problems.
Koeiman walked the first two batters he faced and was quickly relieved by Hershelon Juliana.
But he got the bases loaded when he was greeted with a single by Alex Monsalve.
Moments later, Venezuela scored its first run on a grounder, then added another run when a balk was called.
That was followed by a sacrifice fly, which narrowed the lead to only 4-3.
With two outs and the bases now empty, Juliana gave up another single and another pitching change followed.
Alexander Rodriguez, who was the designated hittter, took the mound for Curaçao and got an inning-ending grounder.
Rodriguez got a pop-fly and flyout to start the bottom of the seventh inning, which ended with a rare play.
With two outs, Rodriguez gave up a single to Yoandy Rea, who hit the ball down the rightfield-line.
Rea rounded first base, but then returned too late, as rightfielder Rayshelon Carolina got the ball in time to first baseman Dudley Leonora.
He then tagged out Rea.
That not only ended the the inning, but also the game, as all games will last seven innings.
In case of a tie, extra innings will be played from the eighth at bat on.
(June 27)
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