US Tops Venezuela 6-1, Takes Third Place At 2024 WBSC Premier12

TOKYO – On the fourth and final day of the 2024 Premier12 Super Round at the Tokyo Dome, the United States won the bronze medal by beating Venezuela 6-1. 

United States starting pitcher Casey Lawrence threw six shutout innings, allowing four hits, and seven strikeouts to keep the Venezuela offense at bay. 

“Right from the get-go, starting pitching worked for us in this game, and Rich Hill set the tone early in the tournament. Starting pitching is so contagious, and, you know, you see what guys are doing ahead of you and you want to carry it forward,” Lawrence said during the postgame press conference.  

That was case, too, for the United States pitching staff and their bullpen on Sunday afternoon. United States relievers Anthony Gose and Dan Altavilla each threw three innings, allowing one earned run, one hit, two walks, and four strikeouts during the win on Sunday afternoon.

In the top of the third, Carson Williams lofted a sacrifice fly to center field, sending Chris Okey home to score the first run of the game. 

Shortly after, manager Omar Lopez took out starting pitcher Venezuela starting pitcher Mario Sanchez and called on relief pitcher Oddanier Mosqueda. 

Sanchez, who arrived on Friday due to issues with his visa, made his first start in the Super Round, throwing 2 2/3 innings, allowing one hit, two earned runs, four walks and two strikeouts.

“I felt good being around being this team, and it’s such a blessing to represent Venezeula, [as well as] representing my country in Taiwan after playing there in the 2024 season. Anytime I get the chance to represent where I’m from, I always try to do the best, where I play at the highest level,” Sanchez said following the gmae. 

Sanchez was one of the top starters in the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan during the 2024 regular season, going 14-5 with a 2.49 ERA in 26 of his starts, throwing two complete games in 159.1 innings of work, he allowed 130 hits, 44 earned runs, 10 home runs, 37 walks, 167 strikeouts, and posted a 1.048 WHIP.

A few moments later, left fielder Colby Thomas was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, pushing Justin Crawford across the plate to make it 2-0.

In the top of the sixth, Chandler Simpson beat out a ground ball that was fielded by Venezuela shortstop Diego Castillo barehanded. Castillo rifled the ball to first baseman David Rodriguez and first base umpire Chikara Tsugawa called Simpson safe on the play, and Termarr Johnson came into score to make it 3-0 for the United States, while Luke Ritter, who reached after being hit by a pitch, advanced to third. Ritter later scored on a wild pitch while Matt Shaw was batting to give the U.S. a 4-0 lead. 

Venezuela did not get their first run until the bottom of the eighth, when Alexi Amarista lofted a sacrifice fly to score  Hernan Perez, making it 6-1. 

Dan Altavilla recorded the final four outs of the game for the U.S., and got Ramon Flores to strikeout looking on a 1-2 count for the final out of the game to secure the bronze medal 

“We were excited to be here, and it took a lot of work and play good baseball to get out of Mexico to get to the Super Round in Tokyo,” Scioscia said during the post game press conference after winning his second medal with USA Baseball.  “We didn’t play our best baseball in the Super Round, and fortunately we were able to win the bronze. The Premier12 a high intensity tournament, which is good for the development of our players and playing against competitive talent from around the globe was a good experience for our players.” 

It was also an unfortunate turn for Venezuela, who finished fourth for the second time in an international senior event. A majority of the Venezuela roster will go back to their respective teams in the Caribbean for the remainder of the 2024-25 winter league season. After the Caribbean Series, many of them will then report to spring training in mid-February, or other camps for teams in Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico.

Photo: Players and coaches from the United States receive their bronze medals after the U.S. beat Venezuela 6-1 to take third place at the 2024 WBSC Premier12. (Photo courtesy of WBSC)