CANCÚN, Mexico – The United States outlasted Venezuela, 1-0, in a pitching duel Tuesday evening at Estadio Sherwin-Williams Beto Ávila to complete a sweep of Group B at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-15 Baseball World Cup Opening Round.
With the win, the United States improved to 5-0 heading into the Super Round, which begins October 1 at Parque Kukulcán Alamo in Mérida, Mexico.
Despite being held hitless, Team USA rode the momentum of a dominant performance from its pitching staff to outlast Venezuela in a one-run affair. Team USA jumped out in front just two at-bats into the contest when Raylen Hunter’s speed created a scoring opportunity, then held Venezuela off the board for the remainder of the game.
After the first inning, the United States traded blows with Venezuela in a pitching duel for the following six frames, as only one more hit was registered between both teams. Opportunities to cash in runs were missed by both sides in the third, while the United States’ defense made several key plays to back its pitching staff. Although Team USA put balls in play throughout the game, the squad was unable to produce a base knock.
Team USA’s pitching staff navigated unfamiliar territory throughout the game, but did so in fashion, working out of traffic on the basepaths in nearly every inning while twice stranding the potential game-tying run on third base. Noah Osterman got the start and preserved Team USA’s lead with two scoreless innings. Jaxxon Hanen entered in the third and came out firing, dialing it up to 91 mph while striking out two. Braylon Rogers followed in the fourth and recorded the first two outs of the inning before Noah Vrzal closed out the frame and stranded a pair. Vrzal returned in the fifth and tossed 1.1 innings of one-hit ball. Max Kimbrell worked a hitless sixth, before Jackson McAneeley shut the door for the second time in as many days to earn the save.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Hunter drew a six-pitch walk to kick off the contest and immediately poised a threat to Venezuela’s defense. On the next at-bat, Hunter swiped a bag while an errant throw allowed him to score from first to home standing up, making it 1-0.
- Venezuela quickly mounted a threat in the home half, collecting a base hit before Paxton Scoggin and Brandon Sweeney turned a double play to end the inning.
- The United States worked around trouble in the fourth, stranding the potential game-tying run at third when Vrzal induced an inning-ending fly out.
- After giving up a single in the fifth, Vrzal remained steady and continued to pound the zone, fanning two including an inning-ending strikeout to strand the game-tying run at third once again.
- With a pair of runners aboard in the sixth, Kimbrell turned to his defense to escape the jam, coaxing a 4-6-3 double play to wipe the threat.
NOTABLES
- The 15U National Team is now 7-0 all-time against Venezuela and has extended its winning streak against international competition to 23 games, dating back to 2022.
- Each of the last three meetings between these two teams have been decided by one run or fewer.
- Tuesday marked just the second time the 15U National Team has scored one run or fewer in a game.
- The 15U National Team registered zero hits and won for the first time in program history. The previous program record for fewest hits in a win was set by the 2019 squad, needing just two hits to beat Brazil.
- The United States held Venezuela to two hits, its fewest in a game all week.
- Team USA recorded its third shutout in five games, while its pitching staff boasts a tournament-best 0.23 ERA.
- Both Matti Di Maggio and Hunter reached base for the fifth consecutive game.
ON DECK
The United States (5-0) will have an off day tomorrow, September 30, before beginning Super Round play October 1 at Parque Kukulcán Alamo in Mérida, Mexico. Team USA’s opponent and game time are to be determined.
To stay up to date with the USA Baseball 15U National Team, follow along with @USABaseball15U on Twitter/X, and @USABaseball on Instagram. For more information on the schedule including live statistics and streaming, visit HERE.
