Japan dominate Nicaragua, improve to second place

World No. 1 Japan outscored No. 17 Nicaragua, 9-1 on Friday, and is now in sole possession of second place in the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024 Super Round.

Right-hander Kosuke Sasamori threw five dominating innings, allowing only three hits. Six Nicaraguan pitchers couldn't stop the Samurai lineup. Japan recorded ten hits, going deep with a two-run homer by Takuya Yamada and showcasing speed with an inside-the-park homer by pinch-hitter Kazuhiro Ura.

Japan got a quick lead against right-hander Angel Canales. Takuya Yamada reached on a fielding error. Canales walked Ryo Imazato. He got the first two outs on back-to-back strikeouts, then allowed a ground-rule double to Takanori Takahashi that put the defending U-23 World Champions ahead.

With runners at third and second and after a coach visit, Kaito Yoshikawa grounded out to second base to end the at-bat.

Shinnosuke Nishimura led off the second with a single. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and reached third on the first out. Canales got the second out on strikes, but second baseman Takuya Yamada drove his second pitch well beyond the right-field fence for a two run homer.

When Ryo Imazato singled, Nicaragua relieved Canales with right-hander Jared Albir who got out of the inning on a flyout.

Catcher Enmanuel Aburto led off the bottom of the third with a single, recording Nicargua's first hit against right-hander Kosuke Sasamori. He advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt but couldn't get any further.

Shinnosuke Nishimura walked to lead off the fourth. Albir walked Aiba Kanta and then left for Carlos Rodriguez. The left-hander used one pitch to get Ryo Arima ground into a double and another one to retire Takuya Yamada and end the at-bat.

Japan got to Rodriguez with two outs in the top of the fifth and opened the score. Taishi Noguchi singled and advanced on a balk. Nicaragua intentionally walked Takahashi to have the force play at third in order. Left fielder Kaito Yoshikawa singled through the right side and scored Noguchi. Takahashi advanced to third and Yoshikawa reached second on the play. Both runners scored on a double to shallow right field by Nishimura.

Nicaragua called right-hander Francisco Robleto from the bullpen. Aiba singled to right field on Robleto's fifth pitch and extended Japan's lead to 7-0.

Nicaragua got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth against reliever Aren Sato. The right-hander hit two batters to lead off the at-bat and allowed them to advance with a wild pitch. Nicaragua scored when Odlanyer Maramoros grounded out to second base.

With two outs and a runner at second, pinch-hitter Kazuhito Ura lined the first pitch from reliever Shellon Cayasso into centre field. A bad hop sent the ball all the way to the fence. Ura's speed did the rest, turning the hit into an inside-the-park home run.

Wataru Matsuda pitched the seventh inning for Japan.

Japan (3-1) is now in second place behind Puerto Rico and will finish the Super Round facing No. 6 Korea at 19:00 (local time) on Saturday, September 14. Nicaragua (2-2) will play No. 24 China at the same time.