Team Béisbol Ve will jump to LoanDepot Park at 8:00 pm with Martín Pérez on the mound. The criollos have never been able to beat the quisqueyanos in the World Cup
UA major challenge faces “La Vinotinto” this Saturday, March 11, in its debut in the 2023 World Baseball Classic: Beat the favorite, the Dominican Republic.
The final of the recent Caribbean Series moves to the World Cup tournament. Although this time, the ninths will have their best exponents and that is saying a lot when talking about nations that export players.
Team Béisbol Venezuela will jump into LoanDepot Park at 8:00 pm with Martín Pérez (12-8 with the Texas Rangers) on the mound.
The pitcher, who has never pitched at the Miami Marlins venue, said he felt “calm” in the run-up to the second game of Group D.
Perez, 31, has prior WBC experience with two starts in which he allowed six runs (five earned). The lefty will try to take advantage of his previous learning to perform in his quota of 65 shipments.
“I’m going to try to go as far as I can, minimize the damage, try to move the ball around the plate so I don’t make them (the Dominican hitters) feel so comfortable. I will use my repertoire in my own way. I trust in my talent and in my staff,” Pérez said to the extra-base hitter.
On the other side is nothing more and nothing less than the current Cy Young of the Major League National League, Sandy Alcantara (14-9). The Dominican star claimed to be 100% ready to face the native hitters.
“I know all the hitters who are going to play in the Clásico for the Venezuelan team. I don’t have to worry and on Saturday we will have the opportunity to compete,” said the 27-year-old right-hander, who belongs to the Miami Marlis, so he will be on his day-to-day stage in the Majors.
Looking for a win against the Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is to Venezuela what Kryptonite is to Superman. La Vinotinto has never been able to beat the quisqueyanos in the World Baseball Classic, a paternity that already has four episodes.
The teams met in three of the four editions of the tournament where ours allowed 25 runs and could only produce 9 scores.
The quisqueyanos defeated Venezuela 3-0 by whiteout in the last precedent by CMB in 2017.
The team led by Miguel Cabrera will seek to break the curse and get the first win against the eternal rivals to guide their journey in the group that also includes Puerto Rico, Nicaragua and Israel.
Possible lineups
Venezuela
- José Altuve 2B
- Ronald Acuña Jr. CF
- Luis Arraez 1B
- Miguel Cabrera DH
- Salvador Perez C
- Jesus Gimenez SS
- Anthony Santander RF
- Eugenio Suárez 3B
- David Peralta LF
- Martin Perez P
Dominican Republic
- Julio Rodriguez CF
- Juan Soto LF
- Manny Machado 3B
- Rafael Devers DH
- Teoscar Hernandez RF
- Jeimer Candelario 1B
- Willy Adames 2B
- Gary Sánchez C
- Jeremy Peña SS
- Sandy Alcantara P
With Final Version information