The Panama team combined a six-hit attack well, including two home runs, to defeat Venezuela 4-2 on Sunday, in the second day of the Premier 12 of baseball.
In Guadalajara, western Mexico, the Panamanians enjoyed good work from their pitchers, with outstanding reliefs from Kenny Hernández, winner, and Enrique Burgos, with a saved game.
Venezuela had eight hits, its rival made four errors, but the Venezuelans failed at the right time and left 10 runners on the bases to suffer their first setback, after having beaten Mexico, this Saturday in their debut.
Temporary advantage for Venezuela
The Venezuelans took the lead with a run in the first inning by combining a single by Alexi Amrista and an RBI double by Ramón Flores, but the Panamanians tied it in the second inning with a home run by Carlos Quiroz and turned the game around in the third inning with a double. by Robert Mullen and single by Edgar Muñoz.
In the fourth inning, Venezuela took advantage of the poor defense of the Central Americans and made the score 2-2. Jermaine Palacios had a hit, advanced to second base on a walk to Ehire Adrianza, advanced to third on an error by the shortstop and scored on a balk by starting pitcher Darío Agrazal.
Key moment for Panama
Panama decided the duel against reliever Nivaldo Rodríguez with a pair of runs in the sixth inning thanks to a double by Muñoz, a grounder by Johan Camargo that put the runner on third base, a sacrifice fly by Rubén Tejada to drive in the third run, and a home run by Jhonny Santos, producer of the fourth.
For Panama, the best hitter was Santos, going 2-for-3 with a home run, one RBI and one run scored; for Venezuela Carlos Pérez went 2-for-4.
Kenny Hernández had three zeros with three hits allowed and two strikeouts and defeated Nivaldo Rodríguez.
Guadalajara / EFE
#Panama #defeats #Venezuela #achieves #victory #Premier
**Interview with Baseball Analyst, Carlos Méndez, on Venezuela’s Loss to Panama in Premier 12**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Carlos. Venezuela faced a tough defeat against Panama, losing 4-2 in Guadalajara. What do you think were the key factors that led to this outcome?
**Carlos Méndez:** Thank you for having me. Venezuela’s loss can be attributed to a few critical factors. Firstly, Panama executed a solid offensive strategy, accumulating six hits and capitalizing on two home runs. These power plays allowed them to build a crucial lead early on.
**Editor:** You mentioned Panama’s offense. How did their pitching affect the game?
**Carlos Méndez:** Panama’s pitching was impressive. Their relievers stepped up significantly, controlling the game and preventing Venezuela from rallying. Strong pitching performances can often be the backbone of a team’s success, and that was evident in how they handled the Venezuelan lineup.
**Editor:** Looking at Venezuela’s performance, what areas do you think they need to improve moving forward in the tournament?
**Carlos Méndez:** Venezuela needs to work on their offensive consistency. They had some opportunities but failed to convert them into runs. Additionally, improving their defensive strategies and minimizing errors will be crucial to bouncing back in the tournament. Every game is vital in a competition like the Premier 12, and they must learn from this outing.
**Editor:** Given this loss, how do you see Venezuela’s chances in the upcoming matches?
**Carlos Méndez:** The tournament is still young, and there’s always room for adjustments. If Venezuela analyzes this game effectively and makes the necessary changes, they have the talent to turn things around. It’ll require a collective effort but they are certainly capable of competing at a high level.
**Editor:** Great insights, Carlos. Thank you for your time and analysis on this match.
**Carlos Méndez:** Thank you! It was a pleasure to discuss this game, and I look forward to seeing how the tournament unfolds.