The United States, No. 5 in the world, defeated No. 4 Venezuela 6-1 to win the bronze medal at the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS.
This is the first bronze medal for the United States at the Premier12, following a silver in 2015 and a fourth place in 2019. Japan and Mexico were the previous bronze medalists. The fourth place is Venezuela’s best historical result, after a seventh place in 2019 and a ninth place in 2015.
Casey Lawrence gave the United States six good innings on the mound.
“All I wanted was to give the team a chance to win,” he said after the match. “I have a long history with some Venezuelan players, as I played in their league for three years. They have a dangerous roster. I tried to stick to the game plan and I want to thank Chris (Oakley) “He called a good game behind the plate and was able to slow the game down when needed.”
Lawrence played 59 Major League Baseball (MLB) games in his career.
“I saw him a few times when he was with Seattle and I was managing the Angels,” American manager Mike Scioscia said. “He’s a great professional who knows how to shoot. He gave us the opportunity to win today.”
Scioscia added: “It took a lot of work and good baseball to get here. We were aiming for gold but are lucky to have played our best baseball the last two days and won bronze.”
“Like Mike said, our goal was gold but we didn’t get there so there’s some disappointment. But it was a great opportunity to represent the United States here.”
“I’m just lucky to be part of it,” said Venezuelan manager Omar Lopez, when asked what it was like to be at the WBSC Premier12 and represent his country. “I would never hesitate if I was asked to represent my country again. I was hoping for a different result today but I am happy with what the team did. See what Mario (Sanchez) did. It was incredible.”
Mario Sanchez traveled 30 hours from Venezuela to Tokyo via Istanbul to join the team on Friday.
“I’m still fresh,” he smiled. “I was trying to get in condition on the plane. I told Omar he could use me whenever he wanted. Yesterday I arrived at the hotel and made myself available to throw. I knew that I could not play at my best but gave everything I had to for my teammates, we created a family. It was the first time that I represented Venezuela. is achieved.”
Sanchez left his place on the mound with two outs in the top of the third inning. He conceded four walks. Venezuela used eight pitchers who combined for 10 walks allowed.
How did the meeting go?
Mario Sanchez threw the first pitch at 12 p.m. With two outs, shortstop Carson Williams hit the first American hit and made it to second base. Sanchez gave up a walk to Ryan Ward. The designated hitter became the third out while attempting to steal second base.
The United States took the lead at the start of the third set. Sanchez walked Chris Okey and Justin Crawford to start the inning. He gave up a one-out walk to Matt Shaw to load the bases. Carson Williams hit a pop on the third pitch to center field, far enough for Okey to score on the sacrifice fly from three. Crawford went for three on the throw to the plate.
Venezuela gave the ball to Oddanier Mosqueda. The left-hander allowed a walk to Ward to load the bases again before hitting Colby Thomas with a pitch, conceding the second run. Mosqueda got out of the inning by grounding Termarr Johnson to shortstop.
Nivaldo Rodriguez took the mound for Venezuela in the top of the fourth inning.
Termarr Johnson reached one on a one-out single in the top of the sixth inning. Rodriguez reached Luke Ritter on a pitch and then fed the ball to left-hander Jose Alvarez.
Oakey loaded the bases on a single. Alvarez strikes out second but Simpson reaches first base on a soft grounder to shortstop to beat Diego Castillo’s one-out throw. Johnson scores the third American point from three. Venezuela then gives the ball to Ricardo Rodriguez.
The right-hander concedes the fourth run on a wild pitch and a walk to Shaw to load the bases. He struck out Carson Williams to close the inning.
American starter Casey Lawrence pitched six good innings, giving up four hits and striking out seven batters. He gives way to Anthony Gose on the mound at the start of the seventh inning.
Alfredo Zarraga takes the mound for Venezuela in the top of the eighth inning. He gave up a walk to Luke Ritter and made the first out thanks to the help of third baseman Jermaine Palacios who dove to stop Chris Okey’s strike and make the out in two. Zarraga struck out the second and allowed walks to Simpson and Shaw to load the bases. Williams hits a 1-2 pitch for a two-run single, pushing Shaw for three and going for two on the throw to home plate.
Venezuela gives the ball to Yohander Mendez. The lefty reached Ward to load the bases and got out of the inning by striking out Thomas.
Venezuela opens its counter at the end of the eighth round. With Hernan Perez, hitting for Arcia, on first base and one out, substitute hitter Carlos Jesus Perez sent Gose’s second pitch down the left field line for a double. Hernan Perez scores on a sacrifice fly from Amarista. The United States gives the ball to Dan Altavilla who makes the third out.
Enderson Franco pitches the bottom of the ninth inning for Venezuela. Altavilla makes the final three outs, pushing his fastball to 157 mph.
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