14 | NPAR
Charlotte Sports Complex Hosts International Evening
Written by : Megan Hart NPAR Correspondent
The Tampa Bay Rays faced off against Colombia ’ s World Baseball Classic Team at their spring training home in Port Charlotte on Wednesday , March 8 .
The World Baseball Classic was founded in 2005 to celebrate the international nature of the sport , which counts both players and fans from all over the world . In fact , the Rays ’ 40-man roster features players from six different countries . Members of Team Colombia even play in leagues in Japan and Korea .
Fans dressed in red , yellow and blue – the colors of the Colombian flag – dotted the crowd . Though their team got off to a slow start , their patience paid off . Team Colombia came away with the 9-7 victory thanks to an incredible six-run ninth inning .
Fortunately for the Rays , the game was not about winning or losing . Instead , it was about Colombia tuning up for the World Baseball Classic and about bringing the community together for a game with an international flair .
Early in the game , Colombia struggled to find a pitcher who could keep up with the Rays ’ batters . The Rays also started out strong defensively . Their starting pitcher , Chase Whitley , allowed two hits and one run in three innings . Whitley is in contention for the fifth spot in the Rays ’ regular-season rotation . Although Team Columbia was down for the most of the game , their fans did not lose hope .
Loriam Dau and her family traveled from Columbia to attend the World Baseball Classic . She and six of her family members attended the game against the Rays at the Charlotte Sports Complex . Dau , who works as a trainer for a professional team in Colombia , said she has really enjoyed her first visit to the United States so far .
“ It ’ s been a very good experience ,” she said . “ This is my first time in a stadium here in the U . S . and it ’ s very good … all the activities , the store , the food and the people .”
Three generations of Dau ’ s family made the trip . The group will visit Miami and attend four games before they return to Colombia .
Three Rays team members participated in the 2017 World Baseball Classic : Chris Archer ( USA ), Alex Colome ( Dominican Republic ) and Jose Alvarado ( Venezuela ). In fact , Archer earned the honor of starting in Team USA ’ s first game , which happened to be against Colombia on Friday , March 10 .
Team USA beat Team Columbia 3-2 with a walk-off hit by Adam Jones of the Orioles . Archer pitched four innings , retiring all 12 batters he faced with just 41 total pitches .
Having players from all over the world come together was a treat for local fans , who showed up in full force . Wednesday ’ s games was one of the few evening games the Rays ’ played at home this spring training , and its attendance reflected it . Plus , fans were treated to a fireworks show after the game .
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