WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup in South Korea – Day 1
Japan came from behind to beat Spain, 4-2. Spanish starter Justin Luna had outdueled Japan’s Yousuke Ikeda for seven innings. He was working with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Japan’s centre fielder Keito Mori at first and a 2-0 lead. The inning was stretched by a defensive error. Second baseman Shoma Sakashita reached first and Mori advanced to second. Japan made the most of it: first baseman Yuya Nirasawa and third baseman Takaya Ishikawa tied the game with back to back singles. Left fielder Jo Endo doubled to make it 4-2.
Canada outscored China, 17-3, to debut in the U-18 Baseball World Cup. Left-hander Mitchell Bratt went 5.2 innings to earn the win.
Canada broke the score open in the bottom of the second against starter Xie Shijie. Back to back doubles by shortstop Austin Gomm and catcher Raphael Pelletier and a two-out single by third baseman Tyrell Schofield-Sam to make it 5-0.
China got to 16-year old Bratt in the top of the fourth, scoring two on back to back singles by right fielder Xing Wenbin and centre fielder Hou Hangang. Another run scored on an error.
Canada stroke right back in the bottom half of the frame, scoring four in an at-bat highlighted by a two-RBI single by third baseman Tyrell Schofield-Sam against reliever Xie Shijie.
Canada took the game to a quick end scoring eight in the bottom of the fifth against Wang Weiyi.The defending World Champions USA needed only seven innings to defeat South Africa, 11-0.
USA starter Kyle Harrison went 5.1 innings for the win, allowing only two hits. He struck out nine, including the first three batters of the game.
The USA was quick to get to South Africa’s starter Jaryd White. Designated hitter Tyler Doderstrom batted in the first run in the first and another in the third. The USA broke the score open with a five-run third at-bat. Center fielder Robert Hassell and second baseman Hunter Haas highlighted the at-bat with doubles.
Korea blew a four-run lead in the eighth when The Netherlands even had the potential go-ahead run at second. Then came back to win it 5-4 on a walk-off sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Yun Wonhoe in the bottom of the tenth.
Korea built the lead with So Hyeongjun on the mound. The starter limited the Dutch to three hits and one walk and left after six innings and 83 pitches.
When So Hyeongjun left, Korea was probably regretting wasting some runners. Lee Seunghyun took care of the seventh and then the ball went to Kim Jinseob. Dutch catcher Leandro Anasagasti led off with a single and Kim walked the next batter. It was enough for Korea’s manager Lee Sung Ryul, who gave the call to Nam Jimin. Things did not improve. The Netherlands scored on a ground out, then centre fielder Ruendrick Piternella doubled to make it a one-run game and first baseman Shane Quant tied it with an RBI single. Nam allowed another single to right fielder Nathaniel Bentura, then got out of the inning on strikes.
Anasagasti led off the top of the ninth with a single, then tried to stretch it into a double. He was called out at second after a replay review.
The Dutch wasted another runner in the top of the tenth. Rainer Polonius, the lead runner in the international tie-break rule, was picked off second.
In the bottom of the tenth, with Jang Jaeyoung on second and Park Siwon at first, shortstop Park Min bunted for the single. Pinch hitter Yun Wonhoe stepped to the box with the bases loaded. His fly to centre field was deep enough for Jang to score from third the winning run.
