(Tucson, AZ) Columbia and Germany faced off in the nightcap of Day 3 of the World Baseball Classic at Kino Memorial Stadium.
In yesterday’s action, Brazil came up with a run in the eighth and another run in the ninth to edge Brazil 9-7.
Team Columbia dominated China 8-1 to put themselves in the final game on Thursday.
Tonight Columbia wanted to keep their momentum going against a German team that featured big bats.
First Inning
Team Germany wanted to start fast to put the pressure on Columbia. A two out single to left field by Lucas Dunn was all they could muster.
Columbia did get get out of the gate fast as leadoff batter Michael Arroyo was hit by a pitch. He proceeded to steal second base and Harold Ramirez had a seeing eye single up the middle to score Arroyo for the game’s first run. After an out on a fielder’s choice, Gil Urshela got on with an error from the German shortstop and another run scored (unearned). Jair Carmargo was the second batter to be hit by the pitcher. Another error on shortstop Alex Schmidt scored Rodriguez from second base. Brayan Buelvas got on via a fielder’s choice as another run crossed the plate. Then Jesus Marriaga tagged a triple to right field and another run crossed RBI. When the dust cleared, Team Columbia had scored 5 runs.
Second Inning
In the top of the second inning, the Germans has their first two batters strike out, a one out single by Simon Baeumer was the extent of their offense as they went down on the next batter.
Arroyo sent a fly ball to the power alley in left center but a nice catch by Dunn at the warning track but Team Germany was able to put the Columbian’s out in order.
Third Inning
The Geman’s went down in order with Schmidt and Brent striking out and Heimig popped out to first base.
After a leadoff groundout to the shortstop, Team Columbia went on a tear with Carmargo doubling to the right field gap. Dilson Herrera singled to center field, Brayan Buevas got a hit to left field driving in Carmargo. Marriaga took a pitch up the middle to scoring Herrera and extended their lead to 7-0.
Fourth Innning
Germany still trying to find their offense, could only get a walk before they were set down.
Switching our position players and pitchers, Columbia already assured of playing on Thursday and also giving their bench players some whacks at the plate. Pinch hitter Guillermo Quintana walked and another pinch hitter Carlos Martinez singled to right field to put runners on first and second bases. Herrera queued one off the end of the bat just out of the reach of the second baseman in shallow center field to drive in a run. Buelvas followed with a single to left filled and another RBI and things looked good for the team from South America 9-0.
Fifth Inning
Germany got their leadoff batter on when Simon Baumer singled to left field but left stranded as a fly out, strikeout and ground out ended the inning.
Columbia’s led off Acuña with a walk, but Arroyo struck out and then pinch hitter Jose Ramos hit into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Sixth Inning
Dunn with a smash down the left field line for a one out stand up double but couldn’t advance as Germany got the next to batters out.
Fabian Pertuz inside outed a single to right field with one out. After a fly out to left field, Herrera hit a sinking line drive to center that put runners on the corner. Buelvas couldn’t drive in the potential tenth run as he struck out to end the inning.
Seventh Inning
Team Germany went out in order with the ball never leaving the infield.
Needing only a run to run rule the victory did it short order. Marriaga struck out, but the ball got by the catcher and he ran to first base safely. Three consecutive singles to left field by Acuña, Arroyo and Ramos drove in Marriage for the victory 10-0.
Wrap Up
Team Columbia showed why they’re the team to beat in this qualifier with outstanding pitching and aggressive hitting that kept Germany on their heels.
The winning pitcher was Adrian Almeida who had a moving fastball coupled with his offspeed stuff to stymie the Germans.
With the win Team Columbia is automatically qualifies for the World Baseball Classic in 2026.
Thursday’s game will be Team Brazil against Team Germany at 6 p.m. for the second and final spot in next year’s Classic.
Attendance was 2,137 tonight on a chilly Tucson evening.
