Argentina, Czech Republic, USA win second; Japan still perfect

Argentina evened its record 2-2 today, with a hard-working victory over Denmark by a score of 3-1. The European team is still winless on the tournament after five games.

It was a very interesting pitching duel between Oscar Andersen and the entire Argentine staff, who combined to keep the game hitless for more than four frames.

The Danish hurler allowed only 4 hits and 1 walk in six innings, while Agustin Fernandez, Nahuel Saenz, Juan Pepe and Marcelo Martinez combined for a 1-hit, 14-strikeouts game, in spite of giving up 8 free passes.

Denmark put the first run on the board in the third inning. Fernandez and Saenz struggled to find the strike zone, giving up 4 base on balls and 1 hit by pitch to receive the first run of the game.

In the other hand Andersen retired the first 14 batters he faced, to record 4.2 perfect innings, until Lucio Retamar hit an inside the park home run to tie the game in the fifth inning.

One inning later Argentina took the lead with a passed ball and an RBI double by Alejo Muñoz to take a 3-1 lead.

Tomorrow Argentina will play against Mexico, and Denmark will meet India.

Argentina runs the bases against Denmark

Czech Republic beat Hong Kong today, 13-0, in five innings, and earned its second win of the tournament. Th European team scored nine times in the first two innings to secure the game from the beginning. The Europeans have a record of two wins and two losses.

Vojtech Forman gave his team the lead, with a three-run, inside the park home run. He found two runners on base, and hit it deep to the line of the right field to circle the bases. One inning later the Czechs added six more runs on four singles and a double, to make it 9-0.

Finally, in the top of the fifth inning the European team scored four, including and RBI triple by Vit Koci and a 2-RBI double off the bat of Vojtech Buchner.

The winning pitcher Lukas Kubat in two innings of work, while the loss was charged to Mervyn Yu.

Both teams will have a day off tomorrow, and will play their las round robin game on Thursday. Czech Republic will face USA, and Hong Kong will try to earn its first win of the event against Canada.

Jakub Vasicek scores for Czech Republic against Hong Kong

Japan sent 10 batters in each of the first two innings of the game to score 12 runs over South Africa, en route to a 16-5 victory in 4 innings. The defending world champions remain undefeated after four games played.

South Africa also had a big inning in the top of the third, taking advantage of five walks, a hit by pitch, a single and a 2-RBI double off the bat of Anele Ntombana, to score its five runs of the game.

However, the Japanese team added four more in the bottom of the third, closing the game with a powerful 13-hit offensive.

Tomorrow Japan will meet India at 12:30 local time; and South Africa will play against Australia at 15:00.

Japan’s pitcher Taiga Onishi

A 1-hit performance by Nathen Landry led USA to its second win of the tournament, defeating Guatemala, 3-0. The pitcher fanned 14 hitters and dominated the Guatemalan lineup.

USA jumped ahead in the first inning with two runs. Dalton Gray singled to led off the inning, Jeffrey Lewis followed with a walk and then both scored on a wild pitch and a defensive error respectively.

In the bottom of the fourth Craig Lewis was hit by pitch, advanced with a single by Chayton Lewis and reached third on a deep fly to right field by Seth Brandel. Finally he crossed home plate on an RBI single off the bat of Jeffrey Lewis.

USA pitcher Nathen Landry keep Guatemala hitless for 5.1 innings, until Henry Castillo singled to center field. However he was caught stealing second base for the second out of the inning. That was all the right handed allowed; he ended the game with 14 strikeouts, 3 base on balls and only 1 hit.