MIAMI — Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuvestarring for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, took an upper-90s fastball in his hands in the bottom of the fifth inning and immediately exited Saturday’s quarterfinal game.
Team USA right-hander Daniel Bard Altuve was hit with a fastball that clocked in at 96 mph, causing Altuve to fall to the ground and was immediately taken off in significant pain.
The pitch appeared to glance off his left hand before striking him near the right wrist. Altuve held his right wrist on his way back to the dugout.
Bard, a reliever for Colorado Rockies, also issued two walks, uncorked two wild pitches and threw 10 of his 17 pitches for balls in the fifth. Venezuela finished scoring four runs in the inning to take a 6-5 lead.
The winner of Saturday’s game will play again on Sunday, in a semifinal matchup against Cuba.