The debut of the Brazilian baseball team at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, was a highly positive surprise. This Thursday (19), Brazil defeated Venezuela 3-1 and took the lead in group B, which also includes Colombia and Cuba.
CAPITAL VICTORY, BRAZIL! ⚾🇧🇷
The strike out that confirmed Brazil's great start at the Santiago 2023 Pan American Games 🇨🇱 pic.twitter.com/FBEeFBtLMN
— Team Brasil (@timebrasil) October 19, 2023
Brazil – which has no tradition in the sport – returned to play a match at the Pan after 16 years. The last time was in 2007, when it was the host country for the Pan held in Rio de Janeiro. In Guadalajara (2011), Toronto (2015) and Lima (2019), he was left out.
Venezuela, although it didn't have the best, is a world power in the sport. Some names from the country play in the MLB, the United States league, considered the best on the planet. The country has one gold and two bronze medals in baseball at the Pan American Games. However, he arrived in Santiago with a team considered to be on the second shelf that Venezuela has at its disposal.
In the debut duel, Brazil took a 3-0 lead in the second inning, Venezuela reduced the deficit in the fifth inning but were unable to avoid defeat.
After the triumph, pitcher Felipe Natel, known as Pelé, spoke about his expectations for the tournament.
“We came preparing for the Pan to win a medal. And to do so, we knew we would have to face powers like Venezuela, Cuba and Colombia. It wasn't surprising at all. People didn't even celebrate that much, because our goal is a medal. We want to beat everyone and we will win this medal for Brazilian baseball”, said the player, in a statement to the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB).
Brazil's next match is against Colombia, on Sunday (22).
In addition to the official opening of the Games at the National Stadium in Santiago at 8pm (Brasília time), the Pan will see the continuation of baseball and boxing competitions and the debut of diving. The competition has Live broadcast on the Brazilian Olympic Channel.
WATCH THE PAN AMERICAN GAMES! 📝
You can't stay out of Team Brasil's biggest competition of the year! 💚💛
On this first official day of Santiago 2023 we have Brazilian athletes in action, COBCast and the opening ceremony! 😍
Keep up to date with everything LIVE on Team’s YouTube… pic.twitter.com/UThuj28lev
— Team Brasil (@timebrasil) October 19, 2023
In the ring, at 11 am, Brazil will be represented by Viviane Pereira, who debuts in the middleweight category (up to 75 kg) against Argentine Lorena Soledad Balbuena.
At the same time, there is the opening of the calendar in diving with two Brazilians in action. In the preliminary phase of the 10-meter platform test, Giovanna Pedroso and Ingrid de Oliveira are among the 17 participating athletes.
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