Japan open U-18 Baseball World Cup with 6-0 win against Italy in rain-affected game

World No. 1 Japan won their opening game at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup, with a 6-0 win over Italy in a game affected by the rain. Japanese leadoff hitter Shogo Asano went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored to lead his offense. The start of the game had to be delayed for 70 minutes due to rain in Sarasota. 

After scoring the first run of the game in the top of the first, Japan used five hits and two walks to score five more runs in the second, including RBI singles by Asano and Yoshinobu Kuroda.

Italy’s starter Simone Carnevale gave up seven hits and six runs in two innings, while striking out one, and was charged with the loss. Meanwhile, Ayuta Seimori started for Japan and tossed three innings allowing two hits. Shiki Kawahara was awarded with the win after three innings in relief, striking out four while giving up one hit.

The game was stopped for 70 minutes after five complete innings due to rain. 

Tomorrow, Japan will play world No. 4 Mexico at 7 p.m. local time, while Italy, ranked 17th in the world, will face defending champions Chinese Taipei at 11 a.m. Both games will be played at LECOM Park.