Japan goes over pitch count in 3-0 shutout, forfeits game to Cuba who advances to Sunday's World Championship Final

Japan goes over pitch count in 3-0 shutout, forfeits game to Cuba who advances to Sunday's World Championship Final
03/09/2022
Japan starter Ryusa Tsuji exceeded the number of pitches in the complete game shutout, resulting in an automatic forfeit the game on Friday at the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2022.

Cuba was awarded a forfeit win against Japan on Friday night, due to an infraction of the pitching count rules of the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2022. Japan starter Ryusa Tsuji, who pitched a gem, exceeded the maximum number of pitches allowed per game, resulting in an automatic 7-0 forfeit to Cuba in Hermosillo, Mexico.

According to the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup tournament regulations, no more than 95 pitches will be allowed to a pitcher in any circumstance; and if a pitcher reaches the maximum number of pitches during an active at bat he may finish the same batter. 

Tsuji made 96 pitches to retire the first 20 outs of the game, reaching the pitch limit. He then was left in the game to face Segian Pedroso, and struck him out with three pitches and finishing the game at 99 pitches. 

With the win, Cuba improves to 4-0 in the Super Round and becomes the first qualified team for Sunday's World Championship Game.

In Saturday's action -- the last day of the Super Round -- it's Japan (2-2) vs. Puerto Rico (1-3), Chinese Taipei (2-2) vs. Panama (0-4), and Cuba (4-0) vs. USA (3-1), games that will determine who Cuba meets in the Final and who plays for bronze.