Japan rally late to defeat Colombia, earn third win

World No. 1 Japan defeated No. 11 Colombia on Monday, 7-1, to improve their record to 3-1. The game was closer than the final score would say. Colombia trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, and Japan rallied to open the score in a five-run effort capped by Shinnosuke Nishimura's three-run homer. Japan is in an excellent position to advance to the Super Round of the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024.

Colombia scored first. Dario Borrero hit a one-out double in the top of the third, recording the first Colombian hit against Japanese starter Kento Matsuda. First baseman Ryo Mazato didn't get in time to Jean Pierre Henao's chopper after Matsuda touched it with the tip of his glove. Leadoff hitter Carlos Arroyo singled scoring Borrero from third. Japan got out of the inning on a double play.

Kaito Yoshikava doubled on the first pitch he saw to lead off the bottom of the third and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Colombia's starter Santiago Blanco walked Takuma Ayashi. The first out came on a towering fly to left by Shinnosuke Nishimura, that prove deep enough to became a sacrifice fly on Yoshikava's head-first slide to home plate.

Colombia's pitching coach Rodrigo Escobar made the trip to the mound when Blanco allowed the second walk of the inning. As the game resumed, Blanco retired the side in order.

Kosuke Sasamori took the mound for Japan in the top of the fifth. Dario Borrero and Jean Pierre Henao got to him with back-to-back one-out singles. The right-hander escaped the threat on a popout and groundout.

Left-hander David Burgos relieved Blanco in the bottom of the fifth and Japan took the lead when Yusuke Taura and Shinnosuke Nishimura reached on back-to-back one-out triple.

Colombia played the infield-in on Takuya Yamada, who gounded out to first base. It was the last batter for Burgos, who left for right-hander Carlos Meza, who struck out Yuichiro Murakami to end the inning.

Japan opened the score in the bottom of the sixth. Ryo Imazato led off with a single and scored when Taishi Noguchi doubled to the gap in right-centre.

Meza allowed back-to-back walks and left the bases loaded to Ruben Tapias. The left-hander got the first out on a fly to left, that proved deep enough for Noguchi to score from third. He got the second out on strikes but Shinnosuke Nishimura got to his second pitch and turned it into a monster home run over the right field fence.

Wataru Matsuda took care of the final three outs for Japan.

Japan (3-1) will close the Opening Round against Great Britain (0-4) and is in an excellent position to advance to the Super Round out of Group A. Colombia (1-3) will finish against No. 10 Puerto Rico and will play in the Placement Round.