14/09/2023 3 Minute Read

IX WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Day 2: Easy wins for Japan, Puerto Rico and Chinese Taipei

Japan scored six in the top of the first on their way to a win in five innings against France. Puerto Rico opened the score with five runs in the bottom of the first and closed the game in five against Cuba. Venezuela took a 2-1 lead in the third, then Chinese Taipei took control and went on to win 10-2.

The IX WBSC Women's Baseball World Cup Group B, presented by CARNEXT, completed its second day with hosts Japan, Puerto Rico and Chinese Taipei collecting victories.

It was a humid day in Miyoshi City and with light rain falling, the start of the morning game between Chinese Taipei and Venezuela was delayed until 12:30. It was the closest game of the day though. Venezuela took a 2-1 lead in the third before having to surrender to the superior speed of the Chinese Taipei players.

After opening the scoring in their first at-bat, Puerto Rico and Japan maintained their leads throughout in their games against Cuba and France.

Japan and Chinese Taipei are the only undefeated teams after Day 2.

Day 2 Results

Chinese Taipei-Venezuela	10-2	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT
Puerto Rico-Cuba	11-0 (5 innings)	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT
Japan-France	20-1 (5 innings)	BOX SCORE	GAME REPORT

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Japan-France 20-1

Japan scored six in the bottom of the first on the way to a win in five innings against France.

Folk singer Minami Kizuki performed the Japanese national anthem.

Former Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) player Kenshi Sugiya (2011-2022, Nippon Ham Fighters) threw the ceremonial first pitch.

Miwa Tanaka led off with a single, and Akari Hoshikawa followed with an RBI triple. It took eight pitches for Japan to score the first run against French starter Emilie Gomes.

Japan presented 11 batters in the first and scored six runs. They sent eight to the box in the second. Three of those had base hits, including a double by Tadano.

Despite the gap, France proved again they can play smooth defence.

Japan added three runs on reliever Lisa Papoin in the top of the third.

France got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third. Amina Taleb reached on an infield single. She advanced to third on Lèna Sellam's hit and scored on Angelique Andre's RBI single.

Japan added seven more runs against Frederique Noury and Coralie Guillemin.

Arisa Hotta and Mika Tai took care of the last six outs for Japan.

Puerto Rico-Cuba 11-0

Puerto Rico opened the score with five runs in the bottom of the first and went on to an easy win in five innings.

Puerto Rico helped starting pitcher Angelis Rivera with accurate defence in the top of the first.

In the bottom of the first, they opened the score. Cuba's starter, Yanet Cruz, put herself into trouble by allowing a walk and hitting a batter. She allowed one run on a bases-loaded walk. She also didn't get a lot of help from a defence. A two-out pop to right field fell and helped Puerto Rico score three runs.

Leadoff hitter Luz Feliciano hit a bases-loaded triple in the bottom of the third to extend Puerto Rico's lead to 8-0.

Chinese Taipei-Venezuela 10-2

Venezuela took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third, Chinese Taipei reversed the lead on a two-RBI triple didn't need to look back. Left-hander Chiao Chi Lai didn't allow another run.

Students from Seyrio High School and two elementary schools attended the game to cheer for Chinese Taipei. During the rain delay, they interacted with Chinese Taipei and Venezuela players.

As the game started at 12:30 local time, Cleanup hitter Chiao Yun Huang got to Venezuela's starter Judelys Garcia with a two-out RBI single to put Chinese Taipei ahead.

Venezuela scored the tying run in the bottom of the first when Frandelis Garcia popped for the hit to shallow right field, and Srishna Arciniega ran home from third.

Venezuela took the lead in the bottom of the second. Laureanne Vasquez got a hit despite popping a bunt in the home plate area.

Chinese Taipei gor out of the inning with a double play.

Hsiao Mei Chen reversed the lead as she got to Judelys Garcia with a two-RBI triple in the bottom of the third.

She scored the fourth run on Chia Yu Lin's infield single.

Chinese Taipei added to the lead in the top of the fourth against reliever Mary Rodriguez. Yu Ying Shieh hit a two-RBI triple.

Yu Ying Shieh added an RBI triple in the top of the sixth and scored the eighth run on a single by Shih Yun Lee.

Pinch hitters helped Chinese Taipei add a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Yi Hsuan Chiu hit an RBI triple, stole second and scored the tenth and final run as Yi Hsuan Chiu singled.