Preview: Netherlands hope to continue to score in Group A Evening Matchup against host Mexico
The No. 7 in the KONAMI/WBSC Men’s Baseball World Rankings, the Netherlands, are looking to stay on course in their game against No. 2 Mexico at the opening round in Group A of the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS at 8pm local time at Estadio Panamericano Charros de Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico.
It’s a must-winsituation for Mexico, which finished in the top four in the WBSC Premier12events in 2015 and 2019. They are 1-2 after losing 4-8 to Venezuela on Saturdayand 2-3 to Panama on Monday. In between they held off Puerto Rico 7-5. TheNetherlands on the other hand, flushed out their 2-12 blowout loss against USAon Sunday with a 20-8 barrage against Puerto Rico on Tuesday. In their openinggame they had rallied against Panama for a 9-8 victory.
The Dutchteam now has scored a whopping 31 runs through just three games in thetournament. Hendrik Clementina, Didi Gregorius and Sharlon Schoop each have hittwo home runs apiece. Five different players have five or more hits throughthree games so far, as the team is hitting .393/.429/.667 in the WBSC Premier122024.
Mexico onthe other hand still is waiting to get their bats going, hitting a mere .235/.333/.412with 13 runs on 24 hits in three games. Alonso Gaitan is leading the way witheight hits in twelve at-bats with 13 total bases.
Mexico’smanager Benjamin Gil selected Jorge Perez as his starting pitcher for thedecisive game against the Netherlands. The 31-year-old right-hander is comingoff a strong season with Toros de Tijuana, going 8-1 with an ERA of 3.13 in theMexican League this summer. He struck out 46, while walking 14 in 69 innings.
Dutchmanager Evert-Jan ‘t Hoen is putting Lars Huijer on the mound to start thegame. The 31-year-old right-hander is playing back home in the Dutch Hoofdklassesince a four-year stint in the Seattle Mariners organization between 2011 and2014. With HCAW in Bussum, Netherlands he went 10-4 with an ERA of 1.58 in 21starts. He struck out 166 in 147 2/3 innings, while walking 42. He also playedfor Team Europe in the Global Baseball Series against Samurai Japan this March.
Mexico andthe Netherlands have an even 4-4 record in head-to-head games in internationalbaseball competitions since 2011. In the opening round of the WBSC Premier122019 Mexico beat the Dutch 10-2. In the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup this yearthe Netherlands prevailed 3-2.