WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup Day 7: USA, Venezuela, Chinese Taipei start Super Round with wins
'Group of Death': the Super Round in Tainan features No. 2, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7 in the WBSC Baseball World Rankings. Baseball's superpowers -- Chinese Taipei, Dominican Republic, Korea, Mexico, USA and Venezuela -- are competing for a spot in Sunday's Final.
The United States, Venezuela and Chinese Taipei all won on Day 1 of the Super Round in Tainan, Taiwan. The US are still undefeated as they head into Day 2 of the VI WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup Super Round.
The Dominican Republic scared the defending World Champions. Chinese Taipei trailed after the bottom of the first, but came back and won it in four innings, 16-1.
Second baseman Carlos Nieves homered on the third pitch by Chinese Taipei starter Pin Han Gao to put the Dominican Republic ahead, 1-0.
Chinese Taipei tied it on base hits by Sheng-Zhi Wu and Rui Xin Chen.
Dominican starter Marlon Polanco suffered an injury with one out and runners at the corners.
Catcher Po Sheng Chen singled up the middle off reliever Enmanuel Castro with the bases loaded to put Chinese Taipei ahead, 3-1.
Chinese Taipei added two runs when the Dominican Republic failed to field a bunt by first baseman Po Yuan Chuang.
The defending World Champions broke the score open in the second and added five runs in the third to close the game in four innings. READ MORE
Venezuela-Korea 5-2
Venezuela scored early, cruising to a 5-2 win against Korea.
Venezuela quickly took the lead as they capitalized on a defensive error and scored the go-ahead run on a groundout.
Right fielder David Vabalas doubled to make it 2-0. Venezuela added a third run in the bottom of the second. Juyeok Lee replaced starter Juwon Jung and got through the inning.
In the top of the third, Korea catcher Sunglin Park reached second on a throwing error, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a sacrifice fly by shorttop Woochan Jung.
Venezuela got the third out of the inning at home plate
Starting pitcher Juan Perez singled in the bottom of the fourth off reliever Woochan Jung to extend Venezuela's lead to 4-1.
David Vabalas doubled in the bottom of the fifth to add an insurance run for Venezuela.
Korea reduced the gap to 5-2 on a single by Seungwoo An against reliever Sebastian Figueroa. READ MORE
USA-Mexico6-5
The United States came back three times, hit three home runs between the fifth and the sixth innings and walked it off on a pinch hit single by Anthony Ramon Carlin to beat Mexico, 6-5.
Mexico took the lead against the United States when first baseman Ivan Suarez singled off Jordan Leon to score Johnny Martinez from third.
The United States struck back when slugging Colin Anderson took starter Alfredo Magana off the wall in left-center to score Anthony Frausto from third.
A bases-loaded groundout to second by right fielder Leonardo Cuevas gave Mexico a new lead in the top of the second. The diving stop by Maximus Villalva prevented more damage.
Mexico made it 3-1 when first baseman Ivan Suarez sent a breaking ball offer by Leon beyond the left field wall for a solo homer.
The US cut the lead when speedy Jonah Saken scored on a groundout, sliding home to beat the tag by catcher Ramiro Gaxiola.
James Stout took the the mound for the US and gave up the fourth run on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to right by Ezequiel Rivera.
Gaxiola prevented a third run by the USA as he tagged out Dylan Mercado at home on a squeeze play attempt by Villalva.
The US made it a 4-3 game on a towering home run by Anthony Frausto in the top of the fifth.
The US then tied it on a monster shot by Colin Anderson.
With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the sixth, the US gave the call to Levi Kerr in the bullpen. Mexico scored the go-ahead run on a slow roller to second by Rivera.
Kerr struck out Suarez to end the inning with runners at third and second.
Rivera took the mound for Mexico in the bottom of the sixth. With one out and a 3-1 count, pinch hitter Cristian Matos tied it at five on a home run to right-center.
Villalva walked, then stole second to put the potential winning run in scoring position for the US. The second baseman touched third on a groundout. Pinch hitter Anthony Ramon Carlin singled to give the US a walk-off 6-5 win.
