U-23 Baseball World Cup Day 9: Japan, Korea and Mexico tied at top of Super Round standings
Mexico and Japan earned two dramatic wins over Chinese Taipei and Korea. Chinese Taipei is now fourth. Colombia beat Australia, eliminating both from medal contention.
Japan and Mexico enjoyed dramatic wins over Korea and Chinese Taipei, creating a three-way tie at the top of the Super Round standings of the IV WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup. Japan, Korea and Mexico (3-1) lead, with the hosts (2-1) trailing.
Colombia's win against Australia in the day's first game eliminated both teams from medal contention.
Day 3 of the Super Round on Saturday will start with Colombia v Korea at 10:00 as scheduled while the second game between Mexico and Japan has advanced to 13:00 and the third game between Australia and Chinese Taipei to 16:00 in acknowledgement of the weather forecast.
A two-out base hit by pinch hitter Ruben Salinas gave Mexico an extra-inning win that put them on top of the Super Round, tied with Korea and Japan. Hard-throwing reliever Manuel Castro struck out pinch hitter Sheng Hao Chang to end the game.
Song En Tseng hit and RBI double to put Chinese Taipei ahead in the bottom of the first.
After missing a huge scoring opportunity in the second, Mexico scored the tying run against flame thrower Zhong-Ao Zhuang Chen in the top of the fifth.
Reliever Armenta took Mexico out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth.
Pinch hitter Ruben Salinas gave Mexico the lead with a two-out single in the top of the eighth.
Hard-throwing reliever Manuel Castro struck out pinch hitter Sheng Hao Chang to end the game.
Japan outhit Korea, 10-2, lost two runners at home plate and in the bottom of the seventh, they needed great defence from shortstop Jin Nakamura to stop Korea's comeback. Pinch hitter Janghan Oh flew up with the winning run on base.
A perfect combination between left fielder Jaesun Song and shortstop Hanbyul Kim denied Japan's Masashi Maruyama a run in the top of the first.
Japan scored the go-ahead run in the top of the fourth. Hiroki Nakagawa hit a two-out and full-count RBI single.
Japan added a run on reliever Juhyung Lee and lost the second runner of the day at home.
Korea scored their only run in the bottom of the seventh on an infield hit by Sejin Cho.
The diving stop by shortstop Jin Nakamura prevented the tying run. Ryusei Gonda got pinch hitter Jenghan Oh on a pop fly for the final out.
Branlyn Jaraba went 3-for-4 with a home run, a bases-loaded double, four RBIs and two runs scored, leading Colombia to their first win in the Super Round. Australia's late comeback came just short when left fielder Tyson Zamora, the potential tying run, struck out looking to end the game.
Branlyn Jaraba, the third hitter of the game, homered to put Colombia ahead.
Colombia appeared in a good day, look at the fly out by Jair Camargo.
Australia tried their best to support starter Dylan Clarke.
In the top of the second Colombia added two runs on a double by Bryan Buelvas.
Australia got to Colombia's starter Victor Vargas with five singles in the bottom of the second and cut the gap to 4-2.
In the bottom of the fourth Clayton Campbell doubled and Jarryd Dale singled to male it a one-run game.
Colombia opened the score in the top of the fifth when Branly Jareb cleared the bases with a double. Jaraba scored the eighth run on a sacrifice fly.
Australia got to reliever Jean Herrera in the seventh. Alex Hall doubled and scored on the RBI single by Mitchell Edwards. Herrera walked Campbell and Solomon Maguire cleared the bases with a triple to center field.
Jose Altamiranda struck out Tyson Zamora on a 3-2 breaking ball to end the game.
