Oishi, Inoue homer, Japan tops Mexico. USA uses big third inning to rally past Netherlands

In the best game of the day, Japan defeated Mexico, 2-1, to close the second day of competition in Group A. Japanese catcher Tsukasa Oishi and designated player Tomonori Inoue homered to produce the only 2 Japanese runs of the game.

The game was a pitching battle between Hikaru Matsuda and Jonathan Muñoz, who were in control of the game.

It wasn’t easy at the beginning for Muñoz, who struggled with his command in the first inning. He loaded the bases with three consecutive walks and one out but escaped the jam with a grounder to force the second out of the inning at home and a tag play at the plate when Ryoyu Une tried to score on a wild pitch that was blocked by catcher Ernesto Sanchez.

After that, both starters did a terrific job facing two of the most fearless offensives in the world.

In the bottom of the fourth Oishi belted a solo homer to right field off Muñoz to open the score. It was the first hit of the game for the Japanese National Team.

In the other hand, Matsuda had retired the first 13 batters he faced, being perfect for 4.1 episodes. However, Mexico tied the game in the top of the fifth. Ernesto Sanchez hit a single to left fielder and the designated player Daniel Durazo hit a soft kine to the left to tie the game.

One inning later Japan took the lead again with another long ball. Inoue led off the sixth with a high fly ball that landed in the center field bleachers, just out of reach of center fielder Alan Salgado, who made a good effort and was just about to catch the ball and steal the home run.

With a one-run lead, head coach Tomoaki Okamoto sent Hiroki Ikeda to the circle, and even when he allowed a single to Lenny Villalvazo to start the inning, he struck out the next three batters to hang the zero.

Okamoto sent again Matsuda to close the game in the seventh inning, and the right-hander secured the win with a grounder (a great play by shortstop Ryoyu Une) and two strikeouts (the last of the 11 Ks he collected during the game). The Japanese starter worked 6 innings, allowing only two hits.

Muñoz was charged with the loss, he allowed 2 runs and 3 hits, with 7 walks and 6 strikeouts.

Tomorrow Japan will clash with Argentina, and Mexico will play against the host team, Czech Republic.

USA uses big third inning to rally past Netherlands

USA came from behind in the fourth inning to clinch the first win of the tournament, 5-3, over the Netherlands. Tony Mancha claimed the win with 13 strikeouts, 6 hits and 3 runs.

The European team took the lead in the first with an RBI triple by Eldrick Dijkhof to plate Jefferson Delfina. One inning later Revin Brooks scored on a wild pitch to put the game 2-0. However, in the third inning, USA scored four runs on four hits, including a 2-RBI double by Erick Ochoa, to take a 2-run lead.

In the fourth inning, Netherlands missed the chance to go ahead in the score. An RBI single by Anthony Beaumont put the game 4-3, an leave two runners on with no outs. However, Mancha threw back to back strikeouts and forced Delfina to a groundout to end the threat.

Finally, USA added a security run in the sixth, with an RBI triple by Jonathan Lynch.

You can find the boxscore here.