World No. 5 US comes from behind, walks off No. 4 Mexico to stay undefeated in U-12 Baseball World Cup

World No. 5 US comes from behind, walks off No. 4 Mexico to stay undefeated in U-12 Baseball World Cup
04/08/2022
Mexico took the lead three times, and the US always came back. Pinch hitters Matos (home run) and Ramon Carlin (a base hit) turned the game around in the bottom of the sixth.

The Super Round opener of the VI WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup lived up to its 'Super' name, with an electric game that saw multiple lead changes, drama and excitement.

It was the clash between the best defence and the best offence of the tournament and the Nos. 4 and 5 ranked baseball nations in the world. The bats won it as No. 5 United States added three home runs to their already impressive record of 14 and walked it off against No. 4 Mexico, 6-5.

Mexico took the lead three times: in the first and the second against starter Jordan Leon, in the fourth and sixth against reliever James Stout. The US always managed to come back.

Trailing 4-2, the US got to starter Alfredo Magagna in the bottom of the fifth. Anthony Frausto and Colin Anderson hit towering solo home runs to tie the game.

After earning the lead back in the top of the sixth, Mexico sent Ezequiel Rivera to the mound in the bottom of the sixth.

Pinch hitter Cristian Matos homered with one out and a 3-1 count to tie the game.

Second baseman Maximus Villalva walked, stole second and reached third on a ground out. USA manager R.J. Farrell gave the call to his second pinch hitter of the inning, and the move delivered. Anthony Ramon Carlin hit a walk-off single that scored Villalva and gave the US their fifth consecutive win.

Levi Kerr, who got the final two outs of the sixth, earned the win for the US:

The United States are now 3-0 in the Super Round. They will face Chinese Taipei on Friday, 5 August.

Mexico falls to 1-2 and will next face Korea.