Nicaragua vs Venezuela summary: scores, stats and highlights | 2023 World Baseball Classic
Nicaragua 1-4 Venezuela
Venezuela through as improve to 3-0 in Pool D
With the win over Nicaragua, Venezuela improve to 3-0 in Pool D. This now guarantees that they advance to the quarterfinals, and should the Dominican Republic defeat Israel, Venezuela will top the group.
Throughout the group play, Venezuela has shown a depth and strength at all positions that has at times stunned viewers. Expected to have trouble with both Puerto Rico and the DR, the Venezuelans have brushed aside all competition.
Nicaragua have played in their first ever WBC and although they did not win any games, they were always in the race. The first three innings of this last game, Nicaragua looked as solid as any team in the world. The difference between winning and being a champion is whether you can maintain excellence for any length of time. And while they did not fall apart, Venezuela eventually overtook them and never looked back.
Finishing last in the pool will mean that Nicaragua will have to re-qualify for the 2026 competition.
That is going to conclude our live coverage of the Nicaragua vs Venezuela game here in the World Baseball Classic. Thank you for joining us and we look forward to bringing you more action throughout the competition.
The final score here Nicaragua 1, Venezuela 4
This brings to an end Nicaragua’s tournament run. They were making their very first World Baseball Classic appearance and drew praise from their opponents as a team which would compete to the end. Finishing last in Pool D, they will be required to qualify for the 2026 Classic.
For Venezuela, the performance was more workmanlike than domininant, but there can be no doubt that they are the hottest team in the competiton at the moment. Whether they can translate that into victory over the USA or Japan remains to be seen, but they will certainly like their own chances. As do I.
That was a solid performance by Nicaragua. Coming just one day as it did after they were dismantled by the Dominican Republic, it certainly says a lot for this team that they were able to brush that off and put up a good show today. When you consider the situation, when you consider the stadium, the crowd, and when you consider the opposition that the faced in Venezuela, today was a big-time move by Nicaragua, and I take my hat off to them.
Venezuela win
That is the end of the ball game and Venezuela win 4-1.
Juan Montes skies one a mile high to center field. Acuña camps out under it to put the ball away and end the game.
Rodolfo Bone rips one over the bag at first and gets a two out double as it rolls to the right field corner.
Britton swings at three strikes and then takes a seat. Two away.
Dwight Britton will now come out and pinch-hit for Norlando Valle.
Alvarado peppers him with sinkers and Benard fights them off to get the count to 2-2 before he gets a called strike three at the top of the zone. One down.
Top 9th
Venezuela will bring on Jose Alvarado to try and slam the door shut. Isaac Benard will lead off for Nicaragua.
Andres Gimenez pulls one over to the right side and Blandino gets to it. The throw to first makes the out to end the inning. We head to the ninth and this is Nicaragua's last chance to do something.
He grounds one sharply to third and Alegria goes to second, and the throw to first is in time. Double play and we have two down.
Miggy Cabrera will now come to the plate. He is 0 for 3 with a strikeout today
Four straight balls sees Santander get the leadoff walk.
Bottom 8th
Kevin Gadea will now take the mound for Nicaragua, facing Anthony Santander to lead off.
Elian Miranda lifts one out to right field for Anthony Santander. He makes the catch and the inning is over. We head to the bottom of the 8th with Venezuela still leading 4-1
Cheslor Cuthbert hits a sharp shot to third. Backhanded by Suarez and the long throw across the diamond gets the out at first. Two away.
Alex Blandino now at the plate and rolls one to short. Runner holds and the throw to first gets the out. One down.
Alegria gets a middle-middle fastball and crushes it to left field. Off the wall and Alegria is in with a leadoff double.
Top 8th
Venezuela will now bring on Silvino Bracho to face Benjamin Alegria to get things started in the 8th.
Ronald Acuna Jr. jumps on the first pitch and rolls it to short. Leyton goes to first to end the inning. 1,2,3 and Loaisiga throws four pitches and gets three outs.
Luis Arraez takes a ball before hitting a chopper to third. Alegria throws across the diamond for the second out.
Altuve goes after the first pitch and flies out to center. Montes gets under it for out number one
Bottom 7th
Jonathan Loaisiga will take the mound for Nicaragua now and face Jose Altuve to get going.
Leyton battles off early fastballs and works the count full before getting under one and flying it out to center field. Acuña puts it away to end the inning.
Leyton is now back to the bat and the first pitch is wild, allowing Montes to move over to third.
In this tournament, Juan Montes has to get the award for Greatest Mustache
The count runs full and the payoff pitch is smacked into deep left field for a double.
Juan Montes now up to hit and Angel Hernandez makes Quijada button his shirt. It seems that the buttons are there but the shirt is not well made and they keep slipping open.
Bone gets nothing but heat and goes down swinging. Two down.
Rodolfo Bone now to hit and Quijada no longer has any buttons on his jersey. He had one before running to first, when it popped off. Maybe somebody should get some glue out!
He hits a hard chopper to first. Quijada covers and gets the flip for out number one.
Norlando Valle will lead off for Nicaragua.
Top 7th
Now it is Venezuela's turn to make a shift, with David Peralta coming in for left fielder Luis Rengifo, as Jose Quijada takes over on the mound.
Luis Rengifo jumps on the first pitch and flies out to right, as Norlando Valle hauls it in. Three outs and we move to seven.
Omar Narvaez jumps on the first pitch and lines one to left for a single.
Eugenio Suarez jumps on the first pitch, grounding one to short. Leyton makes the throw to first for out number two.
Andres Gimenez gets things started and tries to bunt for a hit. The pitcher comes out and grabs it, making the throw to first for the first out.
Bottom 6th
Nicaragua will make some defensive changes as Isaac Benard comes in the game and Norlando Valle moves over from left to right.
On the mound, Carlos Teller takes over from Osman Gutierrez.
All heat, but some just off the zone. he works the count full before a big middle-middle gets him swinging for strike three. That will do it for the side.
Nicaragua makes a change, pinch-hitting Wuillians Vasquez for Sandy Bermudez.
He hits one sharply to second. Altuve makes the routine play at first for out number two.
Elian Miranda comes to the plate and gets the same treatment. All heat.
Hernandez is still throwing heat and Cuthbert goes down looking at a 100mph backdoor fastball.
Top 6th
Cheslor Cuthbert will lead off for Nicaragua.
Miggy smashes one to right center. Bermudez on the run gets to it to end the inning. But Venezuela have added to their lead and we head into the sixth Venezuela 4, Nicaragua 1
Miguel Cabrera now at the plate with two on and two out.
Anthony Santander jumps on the first pitch and crushes it into the right center gap for a double. Rengifo scores from second and Altuve moves to 3rd. 4-1 now for Venezuela
Acuña is aggressive and gets another strike before a slider gets him to foul tip it into the catcher's mitt for out number two.
Ronald Acuña Jr is now up and goes after the fastball for a strike.
Two strikes on Arraez now and Gutierrez delivers a beautiful slider for strike three. Nicaragua needed that.
Gutierrez looks spooked, having some trouble finding the zone. He needs to take a breath.
Luis Arraez now comes to the plate with runners on first and second and nobody out. He shows bunt but fouls it off.
On four pitches, Altuve draws the walk.
Angel Hernandez is up to his old tricks. Missing strikes, giving balls, just no consistency. The players on both teams are unhappy with it but I suppose he is consistently inconsistent.
Jose Altuve will come to the plate and get a look at the new pitcher.
Right hander Osman Gutierrez will be called for to take over the pitching duties.
That looks like it is going to signal another pitching change by Nicaragua.
Rengifo slaps one out into right center for a single. He takes a wide turn at first, but Montes gets it back into the infield quickly and Rengifo has second thoughts.
Bottom 5th
Crawford will get going here in the fifth and Luis Rengifo will switch over to bat from the right side.
Alex Blandino comes to the plate and grounds a fastball to third. Suarez goes to second to get the lead out and end the inning. Nothing doing for Nicaragua there in the fifth.
Benjamin Alegria comes up and gets a fastball strike and then smacks the first non-fastball that he sees to right field for a single.
Steven Leyton comes up to the plate and gets the same treatment. Three pitches, three strikes, have a seat. The fastest topped out at 101mph.
Hernandez is a fireballer, and he throws straight heat. Nothing but strikes and all hovering around 100mph. Montes gets three of them and then sits down. One away.
Top 5th
Venezuela will make a pitching change and Carlos Hernandez will take over from Jose Ruiz on the mound. He will face Juan Montes to get things going.
Omar Narvaez gets a hanging change up and hits it deep to right. Sandy Bermudez camps under it and puts it away to end the inning, but Venezuela have jumped out in front, 3-1.
Eugenio Suarez now at the plate and drive a sharp line drive to center to clear the bases. Both Santander and Gimenez score. 3-1 now to Venezuela
Gimenez jumps on the first pitch and smashes a line drive to right. It drops in just in front of Bermudez. The throw home can't get Ronald Acuna Jr. and Venezuela level the score. Anthony Santander advances to 3rd and Gimenez moves to second on the throw home.
He will face Andres Gimenez here with two runners on and two outs.
Yep, the decision is made. Leo Crawford replaces Rodney Theophile on the mound.
Theophile is having trouble finding the strike zone and so it looks like they are going to make a change and try to protect that lead.
The count runs to 2-2 before a high four seamer gets Miggy to swing and miss. Strike three and two down.
Miggy Cabrera comes to the plate and faces the young Theophile with two on and one out.
The payoff is a ball and so Santander occupies first base.
The count works deep. Full now and Ronald Acuña steals second base. The catcher Bone drops the ball as he is transferring it from the glove.
Anthony Santander now at the bat
Ronald Acuña Jr now comes to the plate and check swings a tapper to third. Alegria throws to second to get Arraez, and the throw to first is not in time. One out
Luis Arraez will lead off and get the walk on four straight pitches. A leadoff baserunner with a new pitcher and the heart of the order coming up.
Bottom 4th
Rodney Theophile will come out to pitch, replacing Erasmo Ramirez who has done an outstanding job for Nicaragua.
Bone gets a nice four-seamer and pops it out to center field. Acuña pulls it down for the third out.
Rodolfo Bone comes to the plate and gets a few favorable calls. Narvaez is not happy about it and now he is chirping at Angel Hernandez!
Norlando Valle comes up and gets a good curve and a good fastball for strikes before a nasty changeup gets him swinging for strike three. Two quick outs, just like that.
Ruiz challenges him with fastballs and the count runs full before a gorgeous fastball, just off the outside gets Bermudez to chase for strike three.
Top 4th
Sandy Bermudez will get things started here for Nicaragua in the fourth.
The 0-2 is another cutter and Altuve fouls it into the catcher's mitt for strike three. We head to four, Nicaragua still up 1-0.
Jose Altuve comes to the plate and gets cutter, sinker, fastball. He fouls them all off.
He gets a steady diet of cutters that he fouls off. He finally gets the fastball that he was waiting for and he hits it sharply to second. Blandino throws to Leyton for one, and the throw to first is a little late. Two down.
Luis Rengifo comes to the plate. He is a switch hitter, swinging from the left side now.
Omar Narvaez jumps on the first pitch and flies out to center. One down.
Bottom 3rd
Eugenio Suárez will lead off for Venezuela and he packs power. He chases a high cutter and puts it through on the ground to center for a leadoff single.
Elian Miranda stands in now and goes after a curveball and lines one to short. Alex Blandino has a mental lapse and is way off the base! Gimenez throws to Altuve, covering the bag, for the double play to end the inning. That was fortunate for Venezuela. yet again they get into a hole and manage to dig their way out.
Cheslor Cuthbert jumps on the first pitch and lines one directly to Eugenio Suarez at third. One down.
Venezuela manager Omar López makes the walk out to the mound and calls for Jose Ruiz to replace Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound.
The payoff pitch is slapped into the right field corner for a double by Blandino. That will be the end of Rodriguez's day.
He fights off some good fastballs to work the count full.
Top 3rd
Alex Blandino will lead off in the third.
One day after being comprehensively embarassed by the Dominican republic, Nicaragua are playing some solid baseball through two innings here. Can they keep it up is the question.
Andres Gimenez slaps a ground ball to first. Cheslor Cuthbert steps on the bag for the first out and throws to Leyton covering second. He makes the tag on Santander to end the inning.
On the way back to the dugout, Miggy chirps at Angel Hernandez a bit. Likely saying that he had to swing at a pitch that perhaps he didn't like because he could see that Angel was giving some wide strikes.
Now Miggy Cabrera comes up and hits one hard to right field. Doesn't quite carry and Bermudez gets under it for the out.
Bottom 2nd
Anthony Santander will lead off for Venezuela. He gets a low curve that he flares out to center field, falling just in front of Montes for a leadoff single.
Benjamin Alegria comes to the plate and gets a ball followed by three good pitches. He doesn't offer on the last and gets rung up on a called strike to end the inning. So Venezuela get out of trouble again, but Nicaragua score a run. Middle of two, 1-0
He hits a high hopper over the pitcher, there is no chance at a double play. Altuve fields it and goes to first for the out. Valle scores on the play.
Steven Leyton comes to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. Anything through the infield scores a run.
Bases are loaded again for Nicaragua and Venezuela will have a little meeting on the mound to discuss things.
Juan Montes works a deep count and then slaps a sinker to left for a single. Norlando Valle advances to 3rd and Rodolfo Bone moves to 2nd.
Rodolfo Bone gets a first-pitch four seamer and he slaps it through to center field for a single. Nicaragua are stringing together hits here at the top of the game.
Norlando Valle jumps on a low pitch and slaps it under the glove of the third baseman for a single to left.
Rodriguez is missing with the fastball, but his cutter and sinker are doing well. Bermudez gets a changeup and swings at strike three. One down.
Top 2nd
Sandy Bermudez will lead off for Nicaragua.
A fastball low and away gets Acuña swinging. Three away and the inning is over.
Partly Ramirez is working the edges wonderfully, and partly because Angel Hernandez is generous with the strike zone.
Ronald Acuña Jr comes to the plate and again sees pitches for strike that he fouls off to stay alive. In a hole 0-2 after five pitches.
A beautiful backdoor curveball gets him swinging for strike three. What a lovely example of locating a pitch perfectly!
Arraez now at the plate and he gets three pitches for strike that he fouls off. In a bit of a hole now.
Four sinkers into the count and he offers a fastball that Altuve skies to deep right field. Sandy Bermudez hauls it in for out number one.
Ramirez mostly throw cutters and sinkers, although he will mix in a curve and fastball.
Bottom 1st
Erasmo Ramirez is on the mound for Nicaragua and he will face Jose Altuve to get going.
Elian Miranda grounds one to short. Gimenez fields it and flips to Altuve, who goes to first for the double play to end the inning. So Venzuela gets into some trouble, but dig their way out of it.
Cuthbert hits one into the hole at short. Gimenez backhands it and throws a bouncer to first, not in time. Everybody is safe! Bases loaded now.
One down now for Cheslor Cuthbert.
Uh oh! It has started already. Angel Hernandez calls strike three on a pitch that was waaaaay inside.
A changeup misses and then the same pitch, same place, is called a strike by Angel Hernandez.
Alex Blandino steps up and gets a cutter for a strike.
Benjamin Alegria comes to the plate and gets two balls before shoving one through the hole on the right side. Back to back singles to get the game started for Nicaragua.
Three straight fastballs for strike are fouled off before Leyton pokes one through to center for a leadoff single.
Top 1st
Steven Leyton is leading off for Nicaragua and we are off!
We are just about ready to go and Eduardo Rodriguez is on the mound for Venezuela. He throws mostly fastball, cutter, and change up, although he has a decent slider to add to the mix.
It is cloudy in Miami with a chance of rain this afternoon, as both teams take the field to get warmed up. We are only about ten minutes away from first pitch.
Venezuela Lineup
Altuve 2B
Arraez 1B
Acuña Jr. CF
Santander RF
Cabrera DH
Gimenez SS
Suárez 3B
Narváez C
Rengifo LF
Nicaragua Lineup
Leyton SS
Alegria 3B
Blandino 2B
Cuthbert 1B
Miranda DH
Bermudez RF
Valle LF
Bone C
Montes CF
Starting Pitchers
Nicaragua will start veteran right hander Erasmo Ramírez. He has bounced around the MLB and currently plays in the Washington Nationals' minor league system, where last season he posted a 2.92 ERA and struck out 61 batters in 86.1 innings pitched.
Venezuela will turn to lefty Eduardo Rodriguez, who plays his club ball in the Detroit Tigers organization. After taking time off due to personal reasons, he was sent to the Triple A Mud Hens, where he posted an ERA of 4.05 while striking out 72 in 91.0 innings pitched.
Welcome to the live commentary coverage of the Nicaragua vs Venezuela game here as Venezuela tries to keep their clean sheet at the top of Pool D.
Venezuela came into this competition, perhaps slightly undervalued, and have played the role of giant-killer in this group. First they humbled a Dominican Republic side widely pipped to make it to the final, and then they stunned Puerto Rico the following day. A win here would cement their place in the quarterfinals.
Nicaragua are a team currently adrift in the competition. Qualifying for the first time ever, they have been game opponents but thoroughly outclassed by the rest of the group. There have been bright moments for them, particularly yesterday's pitching by 21-year-old Duque Hebbert, who was signed to an MLB contract within an hour of striking out Juan Soto, Julio Rodriguez and Rafael Devers in the 9th inning.
Juan Montes and Norlando Valle have provided excellent defense in the outfield for Nicaragua, but these sparks have not yet been enough to ignite a fire in this WBC competition. Now they are fighting, not to advance, but to finish above the bottom. With the top four teams in each group gaining automatic qualification to the next WBC in 2026, that is a significant prize for this team.