World Baseball Classic Day 3: Japan stay undefeated, Chinese Taipei, Czechia and Cuba celebrate first wins
In Group B, Japan dominated Asian rivals Korea with 13 hits. Veteran Martin Muzik led the Czechs over China with a home run. In Group A, Chinese Taipei beat Italy after a slugfest. Cuba used 21 hits to overcome Panama.
After the third day of the World Baseball Classic, the Netherlands and Japan lead undefeated their respective groups. In Group A, every team has at least one win behind the Dutch. In Group B, China and Korea, both 0-2, already face elimination.
World No. 2 Chinese Taipei defeated No. 16 Italy, 11-7, at the end of a thrilling slugfest in front of a crowd of 18,799.
Chinese Taipei combined 16 hits against five Italian pitchers, including home runs by Tzu-Wei Lin, Yu Chang and Kungkuan Giljengiljaw.
Chang's two-run shot off reliever Stephen Woods tied the game in the bottom of the sixth.
Chinese Taipei took the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Pinch-hitter Kuo-Chen Fan batted in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded infield single against reliever Joey Marciano.
CPBL reigning Home Run King Giljengiljaw got to Marciano with a three-run homer to open the score in the bottom of the eighth.
Italy's offence was also consistent, combining 11 hits. Catcher Brett Sullivan went 3-for-3 and scored three runs.
Yen-Ching Lu pitched two innings and earned the win. Chia-Hao Sung took care of the final four outs and picked the save.
On Saturday, 11 March, Italy will play a key game against Panama. Chinese Taipei will take on the undefeated Netherlands.
World No. 8 Cuba celebrated their first win as they outscored Panama, 13-4.
Panama took an early lead, scoring four runs on starter Ronald Bolaños, who appeared in eight MLB games for the Kansas City Royals.
Cuba's bats came to life in the sixt against reliever Matt Hardy, scoring four runs on four hits.
Cuba scored five in the top of the seventh, breaking the score open.
Third baseman Yoan Moncada went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, leading a lineup capable of combining 21 hits.
"Today, I did what I'm here for, hitting the ball hard," commented Moncada postgame. I made some good contacts and could help our team. Yesterday it was different, but this is baseball."
Reliever Miguel Romero pitched three innings for the win.
"Today, we lost against a better team. They pitched better, and they hit better. There's not much else to say, said Panama's manager Luis Ortiz. "We lost but still aim at going to the next round. We'll be ready to play against Italy tomorrow."
Panama will face Italy on Saturday, while Cuba will play their last game on Sunday, 12 March, against Chinese Taipei.
GROUP A STANDINGS: Netherlands (2 wins-0 losses); Chinese Taipei, Italy (1-1); Cuba, Panama (1-2).
GROUP B
World No. 1 Japan outscored, 13-4, and outhit, 13-6, No. 3 Korea in front of a roaring crowd of 41,629 to stay undefeated.
Catcher Euiji Yang homered off stellar starter Yu Darvish to put Korea ahead in the top of the third, but Japan stroke right back in the bottom half of the frame against Kwang Hyun Kim. Lars Nootbaar and Masataka Yoshida singled, Kensuke Kondoh doubled to put Samurai Japan ahead.
Japan didn't need to look back. The lineup combined 13 hits, including a solo home run by Kondoh.
"I'm glad that I was able to cash in on the opportunity my teammates had created," commented Kondoh postgame.
Yoshida went 3-for-3 with five RBIs.
Olympic gold medallist Shota Imanaga took over for Darvish in the fourth. He allowed Korea the fourth run on a solo home run by right fielder Kunwoo Park. Darvish earned the win.
Lars Nootbaar, the first-ever player to represent Japan without appearing in any NPB games, went 2-for-4 and showcased his defensive skills.
Japan will play Czechia on Saturday, 11 Marchi. Korea will face elimination against the Czechs on Sunday, 12 March.
World No. 15 Czechia made their debut with an emotional 8-5 win over No. 30 China.
With China leading 5-4 in the top of the ninth, veteran first baseman Martin Muzik hit a three-run homer off reliever Kwon Jun to put Czechia ahead.
"It's unreal," commented Muzik postgame. "200 people flew from Czech. They flew across the world to watch us and support us. It means a lot to us. They gave us huge energy and pushed us forward. It’s unreal."
Czechia outhit China 10-6. Right fielder Matej Mensik went 2-for-3 with a home run. Third baseman Filip Smola also had two hits.
Marek Minarik pitched the final 2.2 innings for the win.
Czechia will face Japan on Saturday, 11 March, while China will take on Australia.
GROUP B STANDINGS: Japan (2 wins-0 losses); Australia, Czechia (1-0); Korea, China (0-2)
