China rally in first, hold to lead and celebrate second win

World No. 24 China took a significant step towards the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024 Super Round with a 4-3 win against No. 11 Colombia. China scored all the runs they needed in the first and held onto the lead thanks to a brilliant outing by left-hander Cairang Huadang and his reliever Yu Jun Li.

Colombia didn't waste time to take the lead. China's starter, Cairang Huadang, walked Carlos Arroyo with one out. Guillermo Quintana followed with a single through the right side, bringing Arroyo to third. The Chinese left-hander was charged with a balk by the third-base umpire. Arroyo scored, and Quintana advanced to second. He scored the second run on a throwing error.

China struck right back and took a lead that they wouldn't surrender. Xudong Zhu led off the bottom of the first, reaching on a swinging bunt, and stole second. Colombia starter José Garces loaded the bases with back-to-back walks. Right fielder Yi Zhou singled up the middle, tying the game and sending Garces to the showers.

Right-hander Nicolas Maldonado took the mound with runners at the corners and no outs. He hit the first batter he faced and walked the second, giving China the lead. He then got some help from shortstop Nolan Beltran, who started a double play on a sharp grounder by Aiqi Zhang. China scored the fourth run on the play.

After allowing two runs in the first, Huadang retired 10 in a row before walking Dario Borrero in the top of the fifth. Colombia's first baseman stole second with two outs and reached third on a throwing error. Huadan got out of the inning on strikes.

After putting two runners on base in the first, Maldonado retired nine in a row. Diego Chiquillo kept Colombia's bullpen streak perfect into the bottom of the fourth.

Qirui Wu led off the bottom of the fifth bunting for the hit. Tianyuan Hu singled with one out. Wu advanced beyond the second base bag and Colombia could tag him for the second out.

China relieved Huadan with runners at second and first and no outs in the top of the sixth. Right-hander Yu Jun Li got the first out at first. The sacrifice hit brought the runners to third and second. Colombia scored the third run when Jorge Puerta grounded out to second. Li struck out Nolan Beltran to end the at-bat.

Yi Zhou tripled to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Chiquillo walked the following batter in five pitches. After a coach visit, Chiquillo got out of the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.

Branlyn Jaraba singled to lead off the top of the seventh, becoming the potential tying run. Lin retired the following three batters in order, protecting China's win.

China (2-1) will face Puerto Rico on Monday, September 9. Colombia (1-2) will close the day against No. 1 Japan.