An Olympic
berth is on the line as no. 2 ranked USA and no. 6 ranked Mexico play for the
WBSC Premier12 bronze medal this afternoon.
Mexico, who
finished the Super Round with a 3-2 record, enter the game after a 7-3 loss
against no. 3 ranked Korea in their final Super Round game.
The US defeated
Chinese Taipei to finish the Super Round with a 2-3 record, and had to rely on
other results to secure a place in the Bronze Medal game. Chinese Taipei
defeated Australia 5-1 yesterday, which saw the US qualify for the Bronze Medal
game, and gave them a chance to qualify for Tokyo 2020.
Mexico
scored five runs in the eighth inning against the US en-route to a 8-2 win in
their Group A game in Guadalajara. Ali Solis went 2-for-4 with a homer and three
RBI against the US, while Mexico’s bullpen shut down the US offence, allowing just
three hits after the third inning.
Starting
pitcher: Arturo Reyes (Mexico)
Arturo
Reyes makes his third start of the tournament in today’s Bronze Medal game. Reyes has tossed eight scoreless innings during
the 2019 Premier12, which includes a strong start against Chinese Taipei. Reyes
anchored Mexico’s Super Round win over Chinese Taipei, scattering two hits in
five scoreless innings. Opponents are hitting .111 off Reyes during the
Premier12.
Starting
pitcher: Cody Ponce (USA)
Like Reyes,
Cody Ponce will make his third start of the 2019 Premier12. Ponce dominated the
Netherlands in Group A play, conceding two hits in five scoreless innings.
However his second start of the tournament didn’t go as planned. The 25-year-old
right hander gave up three earned runs in 3.1 innings against Korea.
Player
to watch: Jonathan Jones (Mexico)
Mexico’s leadoff
man has been outstanding for his country, claiming 10 hits with and six RBI in
this year’s Premier12. Jones has homered in his last three games, with his
latest coming against Korea.
After going
1-for-6 to begin the tournament, Jones is 9-for-20 in his last five-games.
Jones has also starred defensively, making strong plays in centre-field throughout
the Premier12.
Player
to watch: Jordon Adell (USA)
A
20-year-old outfielder with big league potential, Jo Adell has made his mark at
the 2019 Premier12. Adell – the number five
prospect according to MLB Pipeline – leads the US offence with 11 hits in seven
games, and has excelled in centrefield.
Adell has
homered twice at the Premier12, once in the Opening Round and once against no.
1 ranked Japan in the Super Round.
First pitch
is scheduled for 12:00 JST from the Tokyo Dome.