Late rally takes Puerto Rico over Colombia and to finish first in Group A

World No. 10 Puerto Rico defeated No. 11 Colombia, 3-2 on Tuesday, with a seventh inning rally and improved their record to 4-1, clinching first place in the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024 Group A.

Colombia took a 2-0 lead in the top of the seventh, but pitchers Bryan Medrano and Kevin Gomez couldnot hold to it.

Starting pitchers David Acevedo (Colombia, right-hander) and Omar Melendez (Puerto Rico, left-hander) dominated the first three innings. The two teams reached base a combined four times.

Colombia took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with two outs. First baseman Dario Borrero took the fifth offering by Melendez deep over the right field fence for a solo homer.

Melendez got out of the inning with the help of a brilliant leaping catch by his left fielder, Daniel Figueroa, on a deep fly by Jorge Puerta.

Diego Chiquillo took the mound for Colombia in the top of the fifth. The left-hander allowed back-to-back one-out walks but got out of the inning with a strikeout and a flyout.

Carlos Roses took over the mound for Puerto Rico with a runner at second and two outs in the bottom of the fifth. He loaded the bases with back-to-back walks and hit Guillermo Quintana, allowing a run. Left-hander Shadai Colon relieved Roses and got the third out on a pop fly.

Bryan Medrano took the mound for Colombia in the top of the sixth.

John Montes led off the top of the seventh with a single. Luis Hernandez followed with another base hit. Medrano walked Gilberto Torres and left for Kevin Gomez.

Pinch-hitter Osvaldo Torres got to the right-hander with a two-RBI single that tied the game.

With runners at third and second and one out, Gomez intentionally walked Edgardo Villegas. Randal Diaz worked the count full, then delivered a sacrifice fly to right field that gave Puerto Rico their first lead.

Cristian Diaz came out of the bullpen to get the third out on strikes.

Colon pitched a perfect bottom of the the seventh, getting two of the three outs on strikes.

Puerto Rico will head to the Super Round with a 2-0 record. Colombia will compete for placement and start from a 1-1 record.