VI WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup Day 6: Dominican Republic knocks out Japan, claims final Super Round ticket along with Korea
The Super Round teams are set with Dominican Republic (3-1) knocking out Japan (1-3) and helping Korea (2-2) to enter the next and most challenging phase of the tournament. Dominican Republic's win helped avoid a three-way tie for final two spots in the Super Round.
TAINAN, Taiwan -- In the final game of the Opening Round, the Dominican Republic beat Japan, 5-2, on a cloudy and windy Wednesday to advance to the Super Round of the VI WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup. The game result also sends Korea into the Super Round, while Japan is knocked into the loser's bracket.
Dominican Republic (3-1) claimed second place behind the United States (4-0) in Group B, while Korea (2-2) took third. Japan (1-3) and Czech Republic (0-4) will move from Group B into the 7th-12th Placement Round.
USA will enter the Super Round as the only undefeated team, at 2-0, while Dominican Republic will enter at 1-1 and Korea 0-2, based on the three teams' head-to-head results between each other.
The Group B squads will now go up against the top teams from Group A -- Mexico (1-1), Chinese Taipei (1-1) and Venezuela (1-1) -- in the Super Round.
Japan took the lead on a groundout in the top of the first, but the Dominican Republic came right back, making the most of a throwing error and reversing the lead. A base hit up the middle by German Altagracia made it 4-1 for the Dominican Republic. First baseman Joshua Cano hit singled to right and one more run scored on a wild pitch.
Japan reduced the gap in the top of the third on a bloop single by Junto Tsuchiya.
Shinei Kashiwagi left the mound after two and moved to second base. In the top of the third, he started a fine 4-2-3 double play, ending a Dominican rally.
The Dominican Republic relieved starter Manuel Grillon after four innings. With runners at second and third, Junto Tsuchiya sent a deep grounder to the hole on the infield's left. Shortstop Starlin de Los Santos got to the ball with plenty of time and closed the inning with a perfect throw to first.
Altagracia pitched a perfect sixth to end the game, and send the Dominican Republic into Super Round in their WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup debut.
Miguel Grullon started for the Dominican Republic
Japan gave the ball to Shunei Kashiwagi
Japan got on the scoreboard first
The Dominican Republic stroke right back
The Dominicans used a throwing error to reverse the lead
A pair ofbase hits by Altagracia and Collado extended Japan's lead
The Dominican Republic wouldn't need to look back
Starlin De Los Santos went 1-for-3 and made key plays at shortstop
Japan went to the bullpen in the third
German Altagracia pitched the final two innings
Japan had runners at second and third in the top of the fifth
