Puerto Rico Opens With Rout Of Venezuela

Eddie Rosario finished a home run shy of the cycle, Carlos Correa, Yadier Molina and T.J. Rivera all homered, and Puerto Rico blasted Venezuela 11-0 in Jalisco, Mexico, on Friday night in the Pool D opener for both teams.

Puerto Rico (1-0), the defending tournament runners-up, dominated so thoroughly the game was called after seven innings due to the mercy rule.

Correa and Molina helped blow it open with solo shots in a three-run sixth inning, and Rivera’s two-run bomb capped a six-run seventh and officially ended the game.

Puerto Rico starter Seth Lugo (1-0) was dominant over 5.1 shutout innings. The Mets righthander retired 16 of 17 batters, allowing only a fourth-inning single to Miguel Cabrera, and struck out three.

Felix Hernandez (0-1) gave up two hits and two runs in 2.2 innings to take the loss for Venezuela (0-1). His early departure after throwing 51 pitches to get just eight outs put strain on an already-thin Venezuela pitching staff, and it showed.

Jhoulys Chacin gave up four hits and five runs in 3.2 innings of relief, and Deolis Guerra gave up four hits and four runs without recording an out.

Giovanni Soto and Joe Jimenez followed Lugo and combined on a three-hit shutout for Puerto Rico.

Venezuela will try to bounce back against Italy on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET. Puerto Rico continues play Saturday against Mexico at 9:30 p.m. ET.