The fifth day of the IV WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup gave the first verdict. Chinese Taipei and Japan qualified for the Super Round out of Group A.
Korea, the only team with three wins in Group B, looks in an excellent position. At the same time, Cuba (0-3) will need to make plans for the Placement Round.
The WBSC Technical Commission scheduled for Tuesday, 18 October, the first Group B make-up game, Puerto Rico @ Australia. Both National Teams will play doubleheaders on the tournament's Day 6.
DAY 5 RESULTS
Korea-Australia 4-3
Korea came back from an early 3-0 deficit, had a strong effort by their bullpen and earned through timely hitting a key win against Australia.
Australia got to starter Junho Lee with the long ball. Dermot Frish doubled and Chris Burke homered to make it 3-0.
Korea came back strong and tied it in the bottom half of the frame on a two RBI single by Donghee Yon.
Korea took the lead on an RBI single by Seunghyeok Yang in the bottom of the sixth.
READ MORE
Chinese Taipei-South Africa 14-1
There was a game for just two innings between Chinese Taipei and South Africa.
Chinese Taipei broke the score open with 11 runs in the top of the third.
They went on to win it 14-1 in the fifth due to the run-difference rule.
READ MORE
Netherlands-Cuba 3-2
The Netherlands came from behind to earn a huge win. As soon as they got the lead, the Dutch turned to reliever Jefrem Leon, a Washington Nationals prospect, and obtained from him two scoreless innings.
The Netherlands took an early lead against Roberto Hernandez.
Cuba reversed the lead in the bottom of the first on a two RBI single by Guillermo Garcia.
The Dutch tied it in the top of the third.
In the top of the sixth the Netherlands make the most of a defensive error and a failed pickoff attempt to take a new lead.
Reliever Jefrem Leon took care of the last six outs.
READ MORE
Japan-Colombia 4-1
Ren Tomida and two relievers dominated Colombia. They combined 12 strike outs and allowed only three hits. Japan qualified for the Super Round.
Masashi Maruyama put Japan ahead in the bottom of the first.
Ryuga Ihara batted in the second run.
Colombia cut Japan's lead in the fifth.
In the bottom of the sixth Japan added a couple of insurance runs on a sarifice fly and a bases loaded walk.
Relievers Ryotaro Sawayanagi and Ryusei Gonda pitched two perfect innings to end the game.
READ MORE
Puerto Rico-Mexico 3-2
Puerto Rico won an exciting duel with a two-out and two RBI single by Ricardo de La Torre in the bottom of the eighth. Mexico took a 2-1 lead within two strikes from success.
Glenn Santiago singled in the bottom of the fifth to score Kenen Irizarry and give Puerto Rico the lead.
Mexico tied it in the top of the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Angel Camacho.
Mexico took the lead in the top of the eighth, scoring the lead tie-break runner.
A two-out bloop single by Ricardo de La Torre won it for Puerto Rico in the bottom half of the frame.
READ MORE
Venezuela-Germany 7-3
Venezuela's starter José Conopoima didn't make it through the first inning after allowing two walks.
Venezuela didn't waste time and scored in the bottom of the first against Nicolas Goebert on a base hit by Amador Arias.
Arias scored the second run on a double by Jesus Chirinos.
Yannic Walther doubled in the top of the second off reliever Oscar Abreu to put Germany on the board.
Venezuela scored four runs on four hits, including doubles by Jesus Chirinos and Ezequiel Alfonzo, in the top of the third.
Germany managed to stay in the game. David Grimes doubled and Finn Bergman singled in the top of the fifth. Consecutive wild pitches helped the Germans score twice.
Michael Chirinos scored Venezuela's fifth run in the bottom of the fifth.
READ MORE
