MIAMI — Venezuela knew it was going to be without one of the greatest of all time in its lineup on Saturday.
And yet even without Miguel Cabrera, who sat out a World Baseball Classic game for the first time, Venezuela manager Omar Lopez had a strategy he hoped would allow his side to clear one of its historically most difficult obstacles in the tournament in the Dominican Republic.
Facing Sandy Alcantara, Lopez went with a lineup he hoped had the best chance of creating opportunities to score precious runs against the Miami Marlins ace and reigning National League Cy Young winner.