Miami baseball alum Danny Valencia was 2-4 with three runs scored, a walk and three RBIs that all crossed the plate on a home run as Israel earned its first-ever Olympic win 12-5 over Mexico. The Israeli win came in the knockout round., Israel advances to play South Korea on Sunday night at 11 PM ET.
Israel got off to a good start in the first inning when Valencia scored after getting on base with a walk. The Valencia home run extended the Israel lead to 4-0 in the third. The Sabras added two more runs to extend the lead to 6-0 before Mexico batted in the bottom of the third inning. Mexico answered with a four-run third.
Mexico got within 6-5 on an RBI single by former Major League first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Israel erupted for six runs in the top of the seventh. With second basemen Ian Kinsler on third base, Valencia doubled. Kinsler went to third. Valencia eventually came around to score to extend the Israel lead to 8-5.
Valencia leads team Israel with five runs scored, four RBIs and is tied for tops on the team with two HRs. Valenciaโs two HRs are tied for the most in the tournament with teammate and former MLB catcher Ryan Lavarnway. Valencia leads the tournament in runs scored and is tied for tops in RBIs.
Hats off to @dannyvalencia19, our Player of the Game. #blueandwhite_baseball #ืืืืกืืื_ืืืืืื pic.twitter.com/GDhoXfWnfZ
โ Israel Baseball ๐ฎ๐ฑ (@ILBaseball) August 1, 2021
South Korea defeated Israel 6-5 earlier in the tournament. South Korea also has a 4-2 loss to the United States and 4-3 win over the Dominican Republic in the Olympics. The Dominican Republic awaits the Israel-South Korea loser. Israel is making its first appearance in the Olympics.
During the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Israel made a surprising run to sixth. The Israel baseball team is made up of primarily American Jews. Ben Wanger who played for Miami in 2021, is also on the Israeli baseball team. Valencia last played in MLB in 2018 when he hit .263 with nine home runs and 28 RBIs with the Baltimore Orioles.