Venezuela lost to Panama in a duel held in Guadalajara, Mexico / Photo: Fevebéisbol Press
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
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**Interview with Sports Analyst Maria Torres on Venezuela’s Loss to Panama in Premier 12 Baseball**
**Editor**: Welcome, Maria. Thanks for joining us. Venezuela faced a tough loss against Panama, finishing 4-2. What are your thoughts on the game?
**Maria Torres**: Thank you for having me. It was a competitive match, and it’s clear that Panama came prepared. Their six-hit offense, which included two crucial home runs, really set the tone early in the game.
**Editor**: Speaking of the Panama team, how did their pitching impact the game?
**Maria Torres**: The pitching was excellent. The Panamanian pitchers did a great job limiting Venezuela’s opportunities at the plate. Their relief staff made key plays that preserved the lead, particularly in the later innings when Venezuela was trying to mount a comeback.
**Editor**: Venezuela has been a strong contender in international baseball. What do you think went wrong for them in this match?
**Maria Torres**: Venezuela struggled with consistency. They had moments where they could have capitalized but missed opportunities to drive in runs. Their defense also had a few hiccups that allowed Panama to maintain their momentum.
**Editor**: Looking ahead, what adjustments do you think Venezuela needs to make for their next game?
**Maria Torres**: They need to focus on tightening their pitching and defense. Offensively, they should work on being more aggressive at the plate and capitalizing on scoring opportunities. If they can find that rhythm, they can bounce back in the tournament.
**Editor**: Thank you, Maria, for your insights. It’ll be interesting to see how Venezuela responds in their subsequent games.
**Maria Torres**: Absolutely! It’s always a tough battle in tournaments like these, and I believe Venezuela has the talent to turn it around.
