Japan 12-1 Guatemala: Top seeds too strong as Nishimori continues run spree

After scoring three runs against New Zealand, third baseman Masaru Nishimori collected a double on Sunday as world No. 1 Japan continued on from their 12-1 win against the hosts on Saturday by beating world No. 21 Guatemala on Sunday by the same scoreline to set the pace in Group B.

Nishimori is the leading run scorer in the tournament with five and he put Japan on the board first coming home after catcher Jonathan Cajina couldn't take an inside pitch from Diego Morales. Japan's second run was scored on a RBI single to the right by Rui Mimoto. Aoi Yamaguchi brought home Ayato Iseki, this time targeting the left side for a 3-0 start in the first.

Alejandro Rojas put Guatemala on the board in the top of the 2nd after hitting a triple down the right side to allow Cajina to score and pull within two runs but Ryuga Oyama scored for Japan in the bottom of the 2nd off the bat of Masaya Ohashi to increase the lead to 4-1.

Guatemala found themselves on a deeper hole after Nishimori hit an RBI double to the middle to let Yamaguchi and Ogura score for Japan. Iseki and Mimoto also scored for Japan, off the bat of Onishi to cap off an 8-run third innings and pull away, 12-1, for their second win of the tournament.

Japan's Koki Yagi pitched 3 innings for 2 hits, 1 run and 4 strikeouts. Cajina scored Guatemala’s solitary run, while Morales pitched 2.2 innings (8 H, 8 R, 3 SO).