Czech Republic tops Mexico in extras, home crowd erupts
After a marathon game lasting 2:25 hours, Czech Republic clinched its first win of the tournament with a walk-off single by Marek Maly in the eighth inning. Andrew Kirkpatrick and Adam Folkard combined to pitch a 1-hitter against USA to lead Australia to the second win of the tournament
After a marathon game lasting 2:25 hours, Czech Republic clinched its first win of the tournament with a walk-off single by Marek Maly in the eighth inning. The host National Team recovered from a 2-0 deficit early in the game to tie the score and then take a key triumph in Group A.
Leadoff hitter Lenny Villalvazo sent the third pitch of the game to the right field fence for a triple and one out later scored on a grounder to shortstop by Edgar Lopez.
In the bottom of the second Petr Vacha and Tomas Petr hit back-to-back singles with one out, and advanced on a sac bunt. But then Jesus Cardona made a difficult play at shortstop to retire Vaclav Svoboda on first base to end the inning.
In the bottom of the third Svoboda Park exploded with a 2-out double off the bat of Patrick Kopecny to plate Patrik Kolkus and Maly to tie the game.
After that, both pitchers did a great job holding their opponents. In the top of the seventh Mexico put two runners on scoring position, with two outs, but Holobradek forced Ismael Peña to hit a soft grounder to his own hands for the out 21.
The Czech Republic was inches away from clinching the game in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, Kolkus hit a long fly ball to left field that just stayed in the ballpark, but Alan Salgado caught it in the warning track to send the game to extras.
Starting with a runner on second, Mexico loaded the bases with one out, on a hit by pitch and a defensive error. But then Holobradek fanned Salgado and Alan Osuna to escape the jam.
In the bottom half of the inning, David Mertl was intentionally walked, and Mikulas Klas hit a bunt single to load the bases. Two pitches later, Marek Maly singled up the middle for a walk-off single that ignited Svoboda Park.
Michal Holobradek went the distance for the Czech Republic pitching 8 innings of 4 hits and 2 runs, with 13 strikeouts. In the other hand, Jose Hernandez pitched 7+ episodes, with 9 Ks, 4 walks, 6 hits and 3 runs (only 1 earned), and was charged with the loss.
Andrew Kirkpatrick and Adam Folkard combined to pitch a 1-hitter against USA to lead Australia to the second win of the tournament. The Australian pitchers faced only 23 batters and fanned 14 to close day 3 at Hippos Arena.
Australia scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the first inning, on a wild pitch. Hayden Mathews led off with a single through the middle of the field, and James Todhunter followed with a walk. They advanced with a sac bunt by Nick Shailes and then, with two outs Mathews scored from third on a passed ball.
That was all the support the two pitchers needed. Kirkpatrick had a no-hitter in progress when Head Coach Kere Johanson sent Adam Folkard to the circle. The big left-hander fanned 7 in 4 innings of work. Folkard pitched the last three innings and also collected 7 Ks, with 1 hit and 1 walk.
For USA Joel Cooley received the only run of the game, he pitched four episodes with 3 strikeouts. Mervin Weiler came in relief and fanned 3 in 2 innings.
