Venezuela Tops Puerto Rico 8-3 | Coastal Classic Baseball

January 5 2025 Venezuela scored in six of seven innings and defeated Puerto Rico 8-3, finishing with 11 hits and no errors. Puerto Rico was held to five hits and committed one error.

Venezuela took control early, scoring once in the first and once in the second before adding two runs in the third. Jesus Garcia singled home Yorkfran Nieves in the first, and Renyel Pinto followed Diego Luzardo's triple with an RBI single in the second. Jose Mendoza delivered a key two-run double in the third to extend Venezuela's lead to 4-0.

Nieves led Venezuela's offense by going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, while Mendoza finished 2-for-4 with three RBI. Garcia went 2-for-2 with two runs, one RBI and a walk, and Luzardo added two hits and two runs. Pinto helped his cause with a hit, a walk and an RBI.

Puerto Rico scored twice in the fourth and once in the seventh. Luis Pintor drove in two runs and scored once, while Anthony Hernandez had a hit, a run and an RBI. Elias Leon, Joel Santiago and Mizael Garcia also had hits for Puerto Rico.

Pinto earned the win for Venezuela after allowing two runs on three hits over 4.1 innings with two walks and seven strikeouts. Nieves recorded the save, giving up one run on two hits over 2.2 innings with three walks and two strikeouts. Jose Soler took the loss for Puerto Rico after allowing four runs on six hits in 2.2 innings.