Intro:

Venezuelans are celebrating their homegrown baseball heroes as a record contingent of players from the country are playing in the World Series with the Detroit Tigers facing the San Francisco Giants.
Nine Venezuelans, including five with the Giants, featured in the series that began on Wednesday.

Script:

Baseball has long been the most popular sport in Venezuela, sharing that passion with other Caribbean countries such as the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

While the Dominican Republic boasts the most foreign players in US Major League Baseball, the number of Venezuelan players has doubled since 2000 and this season reached 95 - the highest in history.
The games popularity has never been stronger with young and old alike, and with nine Venezuelans in this year's World Series, it's easy to see why.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Alex Salazar, Baseball Coach:
"I think the best example these Venezuelans can give to children today is not to give up, keep going and pay the price. Things are achieved if you strive. Nine players are Venezuelans, practically a full team, it's a great impetus for children to do it better and to keep them motivated to continue in this sport."

This season has seen a few milestones achieved by Venezuelans - in addition to Cabrera's stellar batting record, Felix Hernandez pitched a perfect game for the Seattle Mariners and the New York Mets' Johan Santana pitched a no-hitter.

Game 2 of the World Series is on Thursday night in Detroit.