WBSC Men's Softball World Cup 2024 Group A - Day 2: Dominican Republic on top after wins over Czechia & Australia. Venezuela beat Mexico; Australia edge Philippines

The Dominican Republic earned a historic win on Thursday against World Champions Australia, 4-1, and closed the day on top of the standings of the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group A. The world No. 14 team from the Caribbean swept their double header, defeating a pair of top-10 teams in the WBSC/KONAMI Men's Softball World Ranking - Czechia and Australia. Venezuela is the other undefeated team in the tournament, after a 5-2 win against Mexico. Earlier in the day, Australia came from behind to beat the Philippines, 5-4, in a thriller.

Standings XVIII Men's Softball World Cup 2024 - Group A

• Opening Round

• Group A

#	Team		W	L	T	PCT	GB
1		VEN Venezuela	5	0	0	1.000	0
2		DOM Dominican Republic	3	2	0	.600	2
3		AUS Australia	2	3	0	.400	3
4		MEX Mexico	2	3	0	.400	3
5		CZE Czechia	2	3	0	.400	3
6		PHI Philippines	1	4	0	.200	4

The Dominican Republic used 20 hits and two monster home runs to earn their second win in the tournament, 13-4, against Czechia at the Fernando Ortiz Stadium. Jose Reyes and Yoel de Mota went 3-for-5, while Michell Rodriguez (3), Wilton Robles (2) and De Mota (2) had a multiple RBI game for the Caribbeans.

Yan Carlos Gonzalez earned the win in five innings of work, giving up four hits and one run, with eight strikeouts. Jakub Osicka was charged with the loss for Czechia.

Australia edged the Philippines and obtained their first win of the competition, with a 5-4 win. The Asian squad held a 3-2 lead until the fifth inning, when a pair of passed balls and a triple by James Todhunter gave the defending world champions the lead.

The winner was Mark Harris (5 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 8 K), while Jack Besgrove pitched 1.2 innings with four strikeouts, to get the save. Julius Dela Cruz was the losing pitcher, tossing 4.2 innings while giving up five hits and four runs. 

In the last game at Fernando Ortiz stadium, Venezuela claimed their second win of the tournament, beating hosts Mexico, 5-3. Carlos Villegas went 2-for-4 with a homer and a pair of RBIs. In Mexico, Junior Flores and Edgar Lopez homered.

Maiker Pimentel was the winner of the game after working 3.1 scoreless innings in relief. He didn't allow hits and walks, while struck out five. Luis Colombo started the game and pitched three innings. The losing pitcher for Mexico was Arturo Valdez.

Yan Carlos Gonzales pitched a complete game gem and Michell Rodriguez homered in the first inning to lift Dominican Republic past Australia, 4-1, and remain unbeaten after three matches. 

Gonzalez had a three-hit, one-run dominating outing today, getting his third win of the tournament. The veteran right hander fanned 10 opponents.

The Dominicans scored three in the bottom of the first, and this was enough support for Gonzalez. Juan Arias hit an RBI single, and the scored with the blast from Rodriguez. José Reyes added one in the second inning. 

All four runs were scored against Matthew Beckett, who started the game and was charged with the loss. He received five hits and four runs. Jack Besgrove came in relief and pitched four scoreless innings.

Australia 1 - 4 Dominican Republic - Box score

Top 5th - Scott Patterson drove in the first Australian run of the game with a single up the middle. He was retired in the same play trying to reach second. The score now is 4-1.

Bottom 2nd - Yoel Da Mota doubled dow the left field line, and two outs later Jose Reyes slapped a single up the middle the extend the Dominican Republic lead to 4-0.

Bottom 1st - An RBI single by Juan Arias, and a Michell Rodriguez two run homer give the Dominican Republic a three run lead over the defending world champions.

Pregame - After winning their games today, now Australia (1-1) and Dominican Republic (2-0) will face each other at Mundialistas Hermosillenses stadium. This will be their third game of the competition. 

Mexico 2 - 5 Venezuela - Box score

Bottom 6th - Carlos Villegas homers over the centre field fence to score Jose Dorantes and stretch Venezuela's lead to 5-2.

Bottom 4th - Rogelio Sequera drives in Jose Dorantes and gives Venezuela a 3-2 lead.

Top 2nd - Junior Flores hit a line drive homer to the left field that crushed the scoreboard. The game is now 2-1 for Venezuela.

Bottom 1st - A sac fly from Rafael Flores and a passed ball allowed Venezuela to score the first two runs of the game. Rogelio Sequera and David Galeno scored.

Pregame - Mexico and Venezuela will collide in the second game at Fernando Ortiz Stadium. After their 7-0 wins yesterday, only one of them will remain undefeated tonight. For the World Cup, their last game was in 2015 in Saskatoon, Canada, when Venezuela beat the Mexicans, 6-1. However, their last official matchup was last year, in the Central American and Caribbean Games, when Mexico prevailed in an eight-inning, 12-11 slugfest. First pitch is scheduled at 20:00.

Philippines 4 - 5 Australia - Box score

Top 6th - Mark Sarmiento doubles in Kenneth Torres and makes it a one-run ballgame again.

Bottom 5th - Australia come from behind and take the lead over Philippines. Consecutive passed balls and a James Todhunter triple produced the three runs. Australia lead 5-3.

Top 3rd - Philippines come from behind and take the lead thanks to a three-run inside the park homer by Justine Rosales. The game is now 3-2 for the Asians.

Bottom 1st - Brendon O'Byrne and Matt Wickham hit RBI doubles to give Australia an early 2-0 lead.

Jerremyah Selu will gert the ball for Australia, while Julius Dela Cruz will go in the circle for Philippines.

Preview - The first game of the day at Mundialistas Hermosillenses Stadium will be the Phillipines vs Australia. Both teams lost in their debuts yesterday, and will be looking for a much needed win to stay in the mix for the playoffs. 

Australia was downed by Venezuela in the first game of the tournament, 7-0. The Aussie lineup only managed to hit safely three times, while their ace Jack Besgrove allowed six hits and four runs, with a walk and nine strikeouts. On the other hand, the Philippines outhit yesterday Dominican Republic 9-7, but lost the game 5-2. 

Dominican Republic 13 - 4 Czechia - Box score

Top 7th - Another five-run rally extends the Dominican Republic's lead. The Caribbean squad connected seven hits in the inning.

Bottom 6th - Fireworks at Fernando Ortiz Stadium. Czechia still alive in the game with a solo blast by Patrik Kopecny. They added one more one an RBI single from George Harris.

Top 6th - Yoel De Mota crushed a solo shot over the left field fence that cleared the complex and landed on the street. Dominican Republic regain a seven-run lead.

Top 3rd - The Dominican Republic put together a two-out, five-run rally to extend their lead to 7-0. Michell Rodriguez (3 RBI) borught in Juan Ramirez with a single. Then Osicka hung a changeup in the top part of the zone, and Wilton Robles smashed a two-run oppo homer. Pablo Figuereo drove in the seventh run with a single to center field.

Top 1st - The Dominican catcher Michell Rodriguez gives his team the lead in the top of the first, with a two-run single to left field. Jose Reyes and Juan Ramirez led off the inning with back to back infield singles and then scored.

We will have an interesting pitching duel in our first game. Czechia will send again Jakub Osicka to the circle to face the Dominican team. He tossed 3.1 innings last night against Mexico, giving up five hits and four runs. He will face today Yan Carlos Gonzalez, who pitched seven innings against the Philippines in their opener. He struck out 13, while giving up six hits and one run.

Pregame - Dominican Republic won their opener yesterday against the Philippines, 5-2, with Yan Carlos Gonzalez pitching seven innings with 13 strikeouts. Czechia lost in their debut against Mexico, 7-0, in five innings last night, and need to rebounce to remain in contention for a spot in the playoffs.

The last time they met was in the World Cup 2017 in Whitehorse, Canada, for the Placement Round. Czechia topped the Caribbean squad, 7-0. The game was played on 16 July 2017.