The Netherlands began its two-out rally on Ceddanne Rafaela’s single against reliever Angel Obando. Xander Bogaerts doubled, advancing Rafaela to third before Albies hit Obando’s first pitch over the wall in right.
Nicaragua starter Erasmo Ramirez plunked Albies with the bases loaded in the third, giving the Netherlands a 1-0 lead. Ramirez allowed one run and five hits over five innings while Netherlands starter Jaitoine Kelly threw two scoreless innings.
Julio Teheran was a last-minute scratch as Colombia’s starting pitcher, leaving 35-year-old Bergner, who last pitched in MLB in 2024, to take on the short-notice start after Teheran felt right shoulder impingement while warming up.
Michael Arroyo led off the game with a single off Michael Soroka, stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Reynaldo Rodriguez grounded to first baseman Josh Naylor, who threw to brother Bo at the plate for the tag.
That was one of four Colombia outs on the bases. Rodriguez and Jesus Marriaga were caught stealing by Bo Naylor and Daniel Vellojin was thrown out trying to reach second on a dropped fly ball in the ninth inning.
Arroyo cut Colombia’s deficit with an RBI single in the third off Soroka, who allowed four hits over three innings for the win. Abraham Toro restored a two-run lead with a bases-loaded walk in the bottom half from Emerson Martinez.
Josh Naylor had an run-scoring single in the seventh that drove in Denzel Clarke, a cousin, after Marriaga dropped Clarke’s fly to right for an error.
Harold Ramirez had an RBI double in the eighth. With two on and two outs, Gio Urshela swung and missed at three straight sliders from Eric Cerantola.
Phillippe Aumont, who last pitched in the major leagues in 2015, struck out Tito Polo for the final out.
The Netherlands improved to 1-1 in Group D. Nicaragua dropped to 0-2.
Rafaela, Bogaerts and Druw Jones all had two hits for the Netherlands.
Naylor brothers’ defense, Cassie’s 2-run HR lead Canada over Colombia
Canada won its opener while Colombia dropped to 0-2 in Group A.
Toro had an RBI triple in a four-run bottom half and scored on Bo Naylor’s single.