MIAMI (DA) — Venezuela opened its 2026 World Baseball Classic campaign with a 6-2 win over the Netherlands at loanDepot park in the Pool D opener for both teams, with Jones driving in both Dutch runs.
The Netherlands finished with four hits, went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base. Venezuela was more efficient, going 4-for-10 in those spots and leaving seven runners on.
Jones powered the Dutch offense with an RBI double and a sacrifice fly. Bogaerts, Didder and Clementina had the other Netherlands hits, while Gregorius and Clementina scored the team’s two runs.
Venezuela got production throughout the lineup. Sanoja went 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI, Arraez drove in two runs, and Contreras added two more RBIs. Acuña Jr. doubled, scored twice and helped set the tone at the top of the order.
Suarez earned the win after allowing one run on three hits over two innings. Venezuela’s bullpen then took control, with Bazardo, Avila, Buttó, Machado and Palencia combining to hold the Netherlands to one hit over the final seven innings.
For the Dutch staff, Antwone Kelly allowed two runs over three innings before Estanista was charged with four earned runs without recording an out. The Netherlands also committed one error, charged to Gregorius.
Next up for the Netherlands on March 7 is a Pool D matchup against Nicaragua, with 18-year-old right-hander Jaitoine Kelly set to make his first career World Baseball Classic start. Kelly, currently in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization at Single-A Visalia, is the younger brother of Antwone Kelly.
At 18 years and 251 days, Jaitoine Kelly is set to become the youngest pitcher in World Baseball Classic history to start a game, breaking the mark previously set by Shairon Martis for the Netherlands on March 10, 2006. Signed out of Aruba in 2024 for a $70,000 bonus, Kelly has made nine professional appearances, including eight starts, over two seasons and throws a fastball, slider, splitter and sinker.