WBC 2017: No. 10 Australia beats No. 18 China to set up knockout match with Cuba

WBC 2017: No. 10 Australia beats No. 18 China to set up knockout match with Cuba
09/03/2017

TOKYO – The No. 10 Australian National Baseball Team shut out No. 18 China, 11-0, in Group B of the World Baseball Classic.

Box score

TOKYO – The No. 10 Australian National Baseball Team shut out No. 18 China, 11-0, in Group B of the World Baseball Classic.

Luke Hughes (Perth Heat – ABL) had a 2-run home run and 2-run double and James Beresford (Minnesota Twins AAA – MLB) blasted an 8th-inning grand slam to knock out China early (8 Inn.).

ABL/KBO/MLB/NPB veteran pitcher Travis Blackley (Detroit Tigers AAA – MLB) earned the win.

Win or Go Home

Australia’s win at the Tokyo Dome sets up a critical knockout contest with No. 5 Cuba on Friday, where the winner remains in Tokyo for the second-round and the loser is sent home.

China, now technically eliminated from the World Baseball Classic, will face No. 1 Japan on Friday.

Japan (2-0), having already defeated Australia (1-1) Cuba (1-1) in head-to-head contests, will finish atop Group B.

Three of the four spots are now confirmed for the second round at the Tokyo Dome, with No. 41 Israel, Japan and No. 9 Netherlands to be joined by the Australia-Cuba winner.

Battle for Pride

Box score

At the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, No. 3 Korea beat No. 4 Chinese Taipei, 11-8, in 10 innings.  The two Asia powerhouses finished 3rd and 4th in Group A, behind Israel and Netherlands, and will exit the global tournament.