Day 7 of the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup saw some of the best games of the tournament, including a pair of walk-off victories and the first extra-inning game of the competition.
Down to their last strike, Cuba came from behind in the bottom of the seventh, overcoming a two-run deficit, to top rival Puerto Rico, 5-4, and remain undefeated. A two-run, bases-loaded single by Roberto Peña to right field kept Cuba perfect in the tournament.
Coy James tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run, and Alex Harrington hit a walk off sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth to give USA an extra-inning win over Panama, 6-5, in Thursday’s first Super Round game.
In a classic battle between the top two ranked teams in the WBSC Baseball World Rankings, world No. 2 Chinese Taipei knocked off top-ranked and previously unbeaten Japan, 6-4, Thursday night. Kuan-Yu Chu went 3-for-3 with three RBI to lead Chinese Taipei's offense while winning pitcher Tien-Szu Huang -- who went 3.2 innings in relief -- was able to keep the Samurai hitters off balance to close the game.
In other action, Mexico topped Venezuela, 8-3, in the first game of the Placement Round for 7th-9th place, while France defeated Guam, 10-0, in the 10th-13th place round.
In upcoming action on Friday, Japan (2-1) will face Cuba (3-0), and Chinese Taipei (2-1) will battle USA (2-1) in key games that will have an important impact on shaping Sunday's finals, while Puerto Rico and Panama, both 0-3, will go head-to-head.
Chinese Taipei 6-3 Japan
Top 6th - TPE 6-3 JPN: Chinese Taipei scores a pair of insurance runs to secure a three-run lead.
Bottom 5th - TPE 4-3 JPN: An RBI single by Japan's Riku Tsukiya makes it a one-run ballgame.
Top 5th - TPE 4-2 JPN: Chinese Taipei rallies to take the lead in the fifth, with a pair of two-RBI singles by Kuan-Yu Chu and Tien-Szu Huang.
Bottom 3rd - TPE 0-2 JPN: Japan strikes first with a two-run single by Rui Yano.
Puerto Rico 4-5 Cuba
Bottom 7th - PUR 4-5 CUB: Down to their final strike, Cuba comes back and walks it off! A bases-loaded, two-run single by Roberto Peña to right field leaves Puerto Rico on the field.
Top 5th - PUR 4-2 CUB: An RBI double by Gustavo Melendez gives Puerto Rico a two-run lead.
Top 3rd - PUR 3-2 CUB: Puerto Rico takes the lead again with a bases-loaded hit by pitch.
Bottom 2nd - PUR 2-2 CUB: Segian Perez puts Cuba on the scoreboard with an RBI double by Segian Pedroso. Dulieski Ferran ties the game with an RBI single to the left.
Top 2nd - PUR 2-0 CUB: Puerto Rico takes a two-run lead with an RBI double by Gustavo Melendez and a squeeze play with an Owen Navarro bunt.
Panama 5-6 USA
Bottom 8th - PAN 5-6 USA: USA walk it off!! A bunt moved the tie-break runners to second and third, and a sacrifice fly by Alex Harrington gives the extra-inning win to USA.
Bottom 7th - PAN 5-5 USA: Coy James ties the game with a bomb over the left field fence!!!!!
Top 7th - PAN 5-4 USA: Panama takes the lead!!! A defensive error allows Juan Caballero to score the go-ahead run!
Bottom 6th - PAN 4-4 USA: Panama ties the game with a pair of singles by Yadier Molina and Iverson Allen.
Bottom 2nd - PAN 2-3 USA: Coy James gives USA a one-run lead with an RBI single to center field.
Bottom 1st - PAN 2-2 USA: USA ties the game. Andrew Costello hit an RBI single and scored on a single off the bat of Ethan Holliday. Panama escapes the jam with a double play around the horn.
Top 1st - PAN 2-0 USA: A bases-loaded walk gives Panama the first run of the game. Iverson Allen scores on a fielder's choice to make it 2-0 for Panama.
