Arraez an unlikely power source in Venezuela’s loss

MIAMI – Luis Arraez has not performed a recreation but at loanDepot park in a Marlins uniform. When the season opens on March 30, he already may have gotten snug in his new house ballpark.

Arraez, who was traded to Miami from Minnesota in January, pummeled a pair of house runs for Team Venezuela in its quarterfinals matchup in opposition to Team USA on Saturday night time. Venezuela was eradicated in a 9-7 loss. The 25-year-old had by no means homered twice in a recreation throughout his 4 seasons within the Majors and 7 within the Minors.

“He won the batting title [in 2022] … I didn’t know he had that pop in him, though,” USA supervisor Mark DeRosa stated. “I mean, that one down the line was smoked off him three-quarters of the way up the foul pole there.”

Arraez’s first homer of the night time – and the match – got here within the first inning. He jumped on a cutter from Lance Lynn and sailed it 377 ft into proper discipline at 102.3 mph. Arraez drove in Jose Altuve and minimize USA’s benefit to only one run.

By the time Arraez stepped as much as the plate within the seventh inning, Venezuela had taken a one-run lead. He put them up, 7-5, when he rocked David Bednar’s fastball 351 ft to proper at 101.4 mph for his second dinger of the night time.

“When Arraez hit both those homers, to see those guys come out of the dugout. … I told the guys before the game, I wanted to match their passion,” DeRosa stated.

One inning later, Trea Turner halted the momentum sparked by Arraez with a game-winning grand slam.

But Arraez’s three-run, four-RBI night time nonetheless shined vivid below the lights the place he’ll take the sphere this season. Coming off final yr when he hit .316 and earned his first All-Star choice and Silver Slugger Award, Arraez, 25, will look to hit many extra out of the identical stadium with the Marlins.