WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2024 - Day 7: Japan, Puerto Rico remain on top of Super Round standings; Nicaragua come from behind to beat Colombia
Puerto Rico and Japan, both with a 3-1 record, are leading the Super Round standings and have secured a spot in Sunday's medal games. Chinese Taipei and Nicaragua are 2-2, while Colombia and Mexico are 1-3.
With only three games remaining in the Super Round, all six teams remain in contention for a medal at the WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup 2024 after Friday's games.
Puerto Rico and Japan, both with a 3-1 record, are leading the Super Round standings and have secured a spot in Sunday's medal games. Chinese Taipei and Nicaragua are 2-2, while Colombia and Mexico are 1-3.
All three games on Saturday will decide the two finalists and the two teams playing the Bronze Medal Game.
Hosts Colombia as well as Nicaragua and Puerto Rico are looking to finish on the podium for this first time at a WBSC U-15 Baseball World Cup.
On Friday, Puerto Rico defeated Chinese Taipei 8-2 in the first game of the day, while Japan topped Mexico, 6-1, in a rain-delayed encounter. Both teams lead the standings with a 3-1 record. Nicaragua came from behind to win against Colombia 6-2.
Meanwhile, in the Placement Round Italy beat South Africa 14-4, Venezuela were too good for Guam winning 19-3 and the Dominican Republic pipped the Netherlands 5-4.
With one game to go for each team in the Placement Round on Saturday, Italy (currently in eighth) take on Venezuela aiming for their best finish in the event having a previous highest standing of ninth in 1998 & 1996.
A very good pitching performance by Victor Rivera, and a big first inning propelled Puerto Rico to an 8-2 win over Chinese Taipei, on the second day of the Super Round. With this win, Puerto Rico moved to 3-1 in the Super Round standings.
Puerto Rico took advantage of a shaky first inning for Chinese Taipei, who sent three pitchers to retire the first three outs of the game giving up six runs, three hits and five walks in the inning. Puerto Rico never looked back.
Rivera pitched five innings, giving up six hits and two runs against three strikeouts. He was the winning pitcher.
Chinese Taipei scored their only runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth. They hit back to back singles to start the inning, and Yu-Chieh Hsu bunted to the third base line for a single. Rivera tried to retire the runner on first but his throw went into the right field, allowing two runs to score
However, Puerto Rico took the two runs back in the top of the seventh with a sac fly and a run-scoring single by Jean Rosa.
Behind a complete game performance by Naru Fukui, Japan claimed their first win of the Super Round, 6-1, against Mexico. The start of the game was delayed almost 90 minutes due to rain.
Eight Japanese players hit safely in the game, including Ryota Okada who went 2-for-3 and was the only Japanese player with two hits in the game. Yuga Arai collected two RBIs, for a total of nine in the tournament.
Fukui used 81 pitches to complete the game, striking out six while giving up four hits and one run. Two of Mexico's four hits came off the bat of Alexander Huerta.
Japan will enter the last day of the Super Round on top of the standings with a 3-1 record, tied with Puerto Rico. Mexico dropped to 1-3 and will play Puerto Rico on Saturday aiming to advance to the Bronze Medal Game.
In the last Super Round game of the day, Nicaragua claimed a much needed win over Colombia to remain in contention for a spot in the medal games.
A close play at home, that was originally called out and then overturned on review, tied the game in the bottom of the fourth and opened the door to four more runs for Nicaragua, lifting the Central Americans to a 6-2 win against Colombia. Luis Garcia hit a go-ahead two-run single to give Nicaragua the lead in the sixth.
Colombia went ahead on the board, scoring a run in the first and second inning respectively, both against Nicaragua's starter Cristhian Alvarez, who pitched 1.1 innings and gave up two runs on one hit and two walks.
Gean Carlos Lopez pitched 5.2 scoreless innings in relief, allowing only two hits and one walk to earn the win.
Nicaragua improved to 2-2 in the standings, while Colombia dropped to 1-3.
Italy used 11 hits and a pair of five-run innings to defeat South Africa, 14-4, in five innings. For Italy Pablo Suarez, Patrick Silva and Matteo Chinello went 2-for-3 in the game, while eight players had at least one RBI.
Christian Totoni was the winning pitcher, tossing three innings while giving up two hits and three runs. He struck out five.
Italy's record improved to 3-1 in the Placement Round, while South Africa dropped to 1-3.
Venezuela claimed an easy win against Guam, 19-3, in five innings. The South Americans secured the victory since the first inning, scoring nine runs.
Venezuela's leadoff hitter Francisco Marquez went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBIs, leading a 16-hit offensive effort.
With this result, Venezuela improve their record to 3-1, tied with Italy. Guam is 0-4.
Dominican Republic walked off Netherlands, 5-4, and earned their second win in the Placement Round. A throwing error in the bottom of the seventh allowed Wandy Asigen to score the game-winning run from third base.
Frandely Rodriguez went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Alfredo Sena went 1-for-2 with one RBI. These were the only three hits of the game for Dominican Republic.
Dominican Republic remain with perfect record in the Placement Round, while Netherlands is now 1-3.
Bottom 4th - Nicaragua come from behind and take the lead in the game. A bases loaded walk make it a one-run ballgame. One out later, Ludell Espinoza hit a fly ball to center field, Sebastian Solano fielded and fired a precise throw to home plate in a close play that was originally called out and then overturned on review, tying the game and leaving the inning alive. A two-RBI single by Luis Garcia and a dropped fly ball in left field allowed Nicaragua to score four runs and take the lead in the game.
Top 2nd - Adrian Niño and Omar Marrugo walked and Alan Peña drove in the second run of the game with a single to right field. Colombia is leading 2-0.
Bottom 1st - Nicaragua loaded the bases with one out, with a single by Luis Garcia and a pair of walks. However, Colombian pitcher Juan Jose Payares escaped unscathed striking out Berman Moreno and forcing Johacner Gutierrez to a fly bel to left field.
Top 1st - Colombia strike first in the match. Sebastian Cervantes worked a five-pitch walk, and moved to second with a single by Ander Elorriaga. He then stole third base and the throw went into the left field, allowing him to score the first run of the game. Colombia lead 1-0.
Game 41 - 19:00, Edgar Renteria Stadium, Barranquilla.
Bottom 5th - Mitsuki Tokura hit a lead-off single, and then pinch runner Yusei Niwa scored on a sac fly to center field.
Top 4th - With two runners in scoring position, after a single by Alejandro Gonzales and a long double by Alexander Huerta, Mexico scored their first run of the game on a wild pitch by Naru Fukui. A pair of fly balls ended the inning. Japan leading 2-1.
Bottom 3rd - After two scoreless innings, Japan take the lead. A throwing error and a walk put two runners on base with one out. Mexican pitcher Dereck Lopez struck out Soya Kokubo, but couldn't avoid a two-run double to the right field by Yuga Arai. It was Japan's first hit of the game. Japan lead 2-0.
16:29 - Play ball! With an almost 90-minute delay, Mexico and Japan are underway.
16:20 - Ground crew is working on the field, so the game will be delayed a few more minutes.
15:42 - The tarp is being pulled. Expected starting time 16:20 local time.
15:00 - Tarp in on at Edgar Renteria stadium. First pitch has been delayed.
Game 39 - 15:00, Edgar Renteria Stadium, Barranquilla.
MEX - #22- Dereck Alexander Lopez Romero RHP
JPN - #19- Naru Fukui RHP
Preview - Japan and Mexico will play at 3 pm in Barranquilla, in a game that could decide the fate of the two teams in the competition. Japan, 2-1, is tied on top of the standings, while Mexico loss yesterday against Colombia and need to bounce back to remain in contention for a medal. They have never played before in a U-15 World Cup.
Top 7th - Puerto Rico take back two. A walk and an error put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Jean Rosa hit a sac fly followed by two singles from Arnaldo Rodriguez and Valentin Carrasquillo, the last one to plate pinch runner Saul Maldonado. Puerto Rico leading now 8-2.
Bottom 6th - Chinese Taipei hit back to back singles to start the inning, and Yu-Chieh Hsu bunted to the third base line for a single. Victor Rivera tried to retire the runner on first but his throw went into the right field, allowing two runs to score, and leaving a runner on second base. Rivera was replaced by Carlos Coira, who retires the inning. Can Chinese Taipei mount another late-inning comeback?
Top 5th - Rivera hangs another zero on the board. The Puerto Rican lefty has pitched five scoreless innings, giving up three hits while striking out three.
Bottom 4th - Victor Rivera has pitched very well in the game. In four innings, he has allowed thre hits with no runs and walks. He struck out one. On the other hand, after a shaky first inning, Chinese Taipei staff settled with Ren-Ruei Wu going 3.2 innings, giving up three hits and one run, three walks and one strikeout. The game is still 6-0 for Puerto Rico.
Bottom 1st - Victor Rivera allowed a two-out single, but then forced Shih-Yao Huang to a grounder to short stop to end the inning. All four Chinese Taipei batters put the ball in play and on the ground. Puerto Rico leading, 6-0.
Top 1st - Chinese Taipei sent three pitchers to retire the first three outs of the game. As a team, they gave up six runs, three hits and five walks in the inning. For Puerto Rico, Jean Rosa gave Puerto rigo the lead with an RBI single, Valentin Carrasquillo and Bradley Rodriguez drew bases-loaded walksEdward Pineiro singled in the fourth run, and Sebastian Cruz capped the rally with a two-run single up the middle. Puerto Rico is leading 6-0, and their starter, Victor Rivera, still haven't made a single pitch.
Game 37 - 10:30, Edgar Renteria Stadium, Barranquilla.
PUR - #29- Victor Rivera LHP
TPE - #1- Nien-Hsiao Yu RHP
Preview - Chinese Taipei and Puerto Rico, both leading the Super Round with 2-1, will face each other in the first game of the day. The winner of the match will be one step closer to reach the World Championship Final. They met in 2022 in a Super Round game in Hermosillo, Mexico, with a 9-0 win for the Asians. Starting time at 10:30.
