MIAMI (AP) -- Luis Garcia struck out seven in three hitless innings and Venezuela tagged NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara to beat the Dominican Republic 5-1.
The game drew an electric crowd of 35,890.
Anthony Santander homered off Alcantara in the second. The Miami Marlins ace allowed three runs on five hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings for a team many consider the WBC favorite.
David Peralta hit a two-run single in the fourth and added an RBI double in the sixth to make it 4-1. Santander tripled and scored on a single by Eugenio Suarez in the eighth.
The Dominican Republic threatened in the eighth when Wander Franco singled and World Series MVP Jeremy Peña walked. But Santander made a diving catch on Jeimer Candelario’s flyball to right field and Francisco Mejia struck out.
Juan Soto hit an RBI double in the first to give the Dominican Republic a 1-0 lead.
Jose Altuve, Luis Arraez, Salvador Perez and Andres Gimenez all had hits for Venezuela.
José Ruiz got two outs for the win. Garcia followed with a dominant performance.
