Back-to-back inside the park homers ignite Japan past New Zealand. Six-run third lift USA over Singapore
Japan claimed a pivotal win today in Havlickuv Brod, defeating the reigning world champions New Zealand, 5-1, and is the only undefeated in Group A. United States is back over .500 in Group A after a 7-0, five innings victory over Singapore.
Japan claimed a pivotal win today in Havlickuv Brod, defeating the reigning world champions New Zealand, 5-1, and is the only undefeated in Group A. Japan had a solid overall performance. Reo Koyama went the distance and claim the win for Japan. The starter threw a total of 131 pitches and allowed 5 hits and 1 run, with 7 strikeouts and 5 walks.
In the bottom of the first, a very unusual combination put Japan 2-0 ahead in the score. With two outs on the scoreboard, slugger Hikaru Matsuda hit a line drive to the right-field corner, allowing him to round the bases for an inside-the-park home run. And two pitches later Tsukasa Oishi hit the ball in the exact same position, to repeat the peculiar play: an inside the park homer. One inning later Hiroto Ikeda scored the 3-0 on a wild pitch.
In the top of the fifth, Reilly Makea and Kallan Compain hit consecutive singles to open the inning, and one out later Ben Enoka walked to load the bases. Then the Black Sox captain, Nathan Nukunuku hit a soft grounder to first base that Taiyo Kataoka couldn’t handle to produce the only run for New Zealand. Two balls and two strikes later, Koyama threw a change-up and made Thomas Enoka hit a grounder to third for an easy double play to end the inning.
Japan answered in the bottom of the same inning. Two hits in a row to lead off the fifth left runners on the corners and Matsuda produced its second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly. Oishii followed with another single to plate the fifth and last run of the contest.
The loser was Nick Hayes who received 8 hits and 5 runs in six episodes.
United States is back over .500 in Group A after a 7-0, five innings victory over Singapore. USA improved to 3-2 and tomorrow will play Denmark in a key game for the playoffs race.
USA exploded in the sixth with six runs. After two quick outs, the American team hit five singles and walked three times to take a decisive gap in the score. In the bottom of the seventh, a walk-off single by Nick Mullins ended the game.
Tony Mancha won the contest with 9 strikeouts in four innings, with 2 hits and 1 base on balls. Joel Cooley came in in relief for 1 inning and fanned 1.
Jun Tan was charged with the loss in 1.2 innings of work, receiving 5 hist and 2 runs, with 1 walk and 1 K. Marcus Chen worked 2.2 innings and surrendered 5 runs.
Denmark clinches European matchup against the Netherlands.
Denmark claimed today the European duel against Netherlands, 8-1, in five innings and moved to 2-3 in Group B. Kim Hansen pitched the complete game with 3 hits, 8 strikeouts and 1 run.
Denmark scored the first run in the first inning with a bases-loaded walk by Anders Svane. Two innings later Denmark scored three runs with a pair of singles and a grounder. And then added four in the fourth to open the gap.
The only run of the Netherlands came in the top of the fifth with a solo homer by Revin Brooks.
Tomorrow Denmark will face the United States in a game that could define the destiny of both teams in the hunt for the playoffs.
Nezbeda’s late homer secures win for Czech Republic
Czech Republic defeated Philippines, 4-1, in the last contest today at Hippos Arena. Jiri Nezbeda hit a 2-run shot in the seventh.
After three scoreless innings both teams scored in the fourth episode. The first team to score was Czech Republic, with with two runs scored by David Mertl and Patrik Kpecny. In the other hand, Ernesto Binarao singled in Jerome Bacarisas for the first and only run for Philippines.
The game remained 2-1 till the top of the seventh, when Czech Republic added two insurance runs on a 2-run blast by Nezbeda to secure the game.
Jaroslav Brenik claimed the win in 4 innings of work (3H, 1 R, 1 BB, 4 k) and Michal Holobradek closed the door the last three innings with no hits allowed. Leo Barredo lost for Philippines.
