KOREANS DRUB VENEZUELA TO REACH FINALS

One night later, South Korea bludgeoned Venezuela, 10-2, to win the other semifinal game, setting up the title bout with archrival Japan. Korean starter Suk-Min Yook turned in 6.1 solid innings, giving up two runs while scattering seven hits for the win. Conversely, Venezuelan opener Carlos Silva was battered for five runs in the first inning, including a three-run homer by Shin-Soo Choo. After Tae-Kyun Kim walloped a two-run bomb in the second, Silva was yanked. He ended up allowing seven runs on six hits in just 1.1 innings.


The Venezuelans scored their first run on a Melvin Mora single in the third, but Korea posted three more runs on the board to effectively put the game out of reach. Carlos Guillen swatted a solo homer in the seventh inning for Venezuela, but it was too little, too late.

VENEZUELANS TOP USA TO CLAIM POOL 2 CROWN

Venezuela will be the only nation in the WBC semifinals to go through second-round play undefeated after beating The Netherlands, Puerto Rico and the USA in consecutive outings last week in Miami. The Venezuelans opened last Saturday with a hard-fought 3-1 win over the surprising Dutch team despite only recording three hits, two of them solo homers by Jose Lopez and Miguel Cabrera. That was followed Monday by a thrilling 2-0 shutout over Puerto Rico as Felix Hernandez and four relievers combined to hold the powerful Puerto Ricans to just five hits.


The week was capped by a 10-6 win over the United States in a Wednesday night slugfest in which the two teams combined for 27 hits. Max Ramirez blasted a three-run homer for Venezuela, who did most of their damage with a six-run second inning off American starter Jeremy Guthrie.

AMERICANS, VENEZUELANS EMERGE FROM GROUP C

When the United States and Venezuela squared off in Toronto Wednesday night, both nations had clinched second round berths. However, after a 15-6 pasting by the Americans Sunday, the Venezuelans had something to prove, and beat the USA, 5-3, as Henry Blanco doubled and homered.


The first time the two teams faced each other, Chris Ianetta’s three-run double keyed an eight-run sixth inning as the USA clinched a berth in the Pool C final and a slot in the second round. After Italy eliminated Canada with a 6-2 win Monday, Venezuela sent the Italians packing one night later with a 10-1 win as Endy Chavez and Miguel Cabrera each logged three hits for the winners.

CARIBBEAN LEAGUES ROUNDUP

Carolina will need a strong showing from Williams if they hope to break into the Puerto Rico League’s playoff picture. Currently, Ponce leads the league with a 23-11, giving the Leones a comfortable five-game cushion over 17-15 Arecibo. Ponce’s Andy Gonzalez leads Puerto Rico batters with a .385 average, while Arecibo’s Jorge Padilla continues his strong season with a .363 mark, 12 homers and 63 RBIs.

The regular season is over in the Dominican League, with the 30-20 Ciboa Gigantes edging the 30-22 Este Azucareros for first place. The two teams will be joined by Licey and Cibaenas in the first round of the playoffs. After an 18-game round robin, the top two finishers will advance to the final series. Oriente’s Pablo Ozuna led Dominican batters with a .390 batting average, while Victor Diaz of Cibaenas set a record with 17 homers.

Caracas continues to sit pretty in the Venezuelan League standings with a 38-19 record, five games ahead of 33-24 Aragua. Pablo Sandoval of Magallenes leads Venezuelan batters with a .396 average, and Caracas’ Jesus Guzman continues his phenomenal campaign at the plate with a .363 average, 12 homers and 63 RBIs. David Austen of Zulia is 7-2 with a 1.87 ERA, leading the league in wins and ERA.

In the Mexican Pacific League, 19-8 Mazatlan is three games ahead of 17-12 Guasave in the second half standings with a week to go in the regular season. Augie Murillo of Obregon leads the MexPac with a .356 batting average, while Arturo Lopez of Los Mochis is 6-2 with a 2.89 ERA. Among relievers, Tim Lavigne of Guasave leads the league with 19 saves. Lavigne is 3-0 and has a 1.80 ERA.

CARACAS, ZULIA OFF TO STRONG STARTS IN VENEZUELAN LEAGUE

The Caracas Leones and Zulia Aguilas are doing some early jostling in the Venezuelan League standings heading into November. Both clubs have 8-5 record to top the stables, although Caracas has been a bit stronger of late with three straight wins and seven victories over their past ten games, while the Aguilas have played .500 ball in the same timespan.

Two reasons for Zulia's early success have been pitchers Heath Totten and Michael Connolly. Totten has been outstanding in three starts for the Aguilas, with a 2-0 record, an ERA of just 0.90 and 12 strikeouts over 20 innings. Connolly's line is actually more intriguing. Although he has yet to give up an earned run in 12.1 frames, Connolly has an 0-1 record in three starts for the young season. One reason might be the 17 walks he's issued so far.

Among batters, Anzoategui's Josh Kroeger leads the league with a .441 average.