Puerto Rico beat Nicaragua after dramatic pitching duel

There's no undefeated team in the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024, as World No. 10 Puerto Rico beat No. 17 Nicaragua, 1-0, after a thrilling pitching duel on Thursday. Right-hander Axel Zapata and left-hander Jorhan Laboy used just above 50 pitches each to navigate through five innings. Catcher Luis Hernandez won it for Puerto Rico with an RBI single in the top of the seventh, giving them sole possession of the Super Round first place.

Zapata and Laboy were almost untouchable through five innings. Zapata used 54 pitches and struck out eight. He allowed only one runner. Edgardo Villegas led off with a single on the game's first pitch. Laboy was almost as good. He used 59 pitches, striking out six. He allowed three hits, including a lead-off double to first baseman Emanuel Trujillo on the first pitch of the bottom of the fifth.

Zapata allowed the first walk of the night in the top of the sixth. It was again Villegas who reached first. Villegas became also the first Puerto Rican played to advance beyond first base when he stole second. He became the third out trying to reach third on a grounder.

Puerto Rico won the game in the top of the seventh. First baseman Luis Hernandez reached on a leadoff single and left fot pinch-runner Daniel Figueroa. Nicaragua handed the ball to right-hander Bryan Torres.

Puerto Rico bunted Figueroa to second. Catcher Luis Hernandez looked at the first strike and then singled on the second pitch he saw, scoring Figueroa from second.

In the bottom half of the frame Laboy walked Godwin Bennett and left for right-hander Luis Rivera. The reliever got the second out on a pop fly, then hit pinch-hitter Enmanuel Aburto, pushing Figueroa in scoring position.

The game ended when Rivera struck out Nocaragua's catcher Luis Gonzalez on five pitches.

On Day 2 of the Super Round Puerto Rico (3-0) will face No. 6 Korea (1-2) at 19:00 (local time). Nicaragua (2-1) will face No. 1 Japan (2-1) in a game that could prove crucial for the medal race.