Puerto Rico beat China, become first Group A team with three wins

World No. 10 Puerto Rico beat 24 China on Monday, 8-4, to earn the third win of their WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024. The Boricua built their win on an early lead, but a brave China made it a close game until the bottom of the sixth.

Puerto Rico played in uniforms specially designed in the black and yellow colours to honour Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente's memory. All players displayed Clemente's No. 21 on the right sleeve.

"We honoured him by wearing his number and winning this game for him," said manager Juan Gonzalez.

Chinese starter Shulong Ding walked two batters, hit the third and left for right-hander Jie Zhou with the bases loaded. First baseman Luis Gonzalez singled on the fourth pitch he saw to give Puerto Rico a quick 2-0 lead.

Puerto Rico built the fourth run on another walk-hit-by-pitch combination in the bottom of the second. Gonzalez made the most of it with his second RBI single of the day.

China got on the scoreboard in the top of the third. Mingxin Zhang singled off Luis Rivera with one out, advanced on a walk and scored on Tyanhuan Hu's double to right.

Rivera left with the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the fourth. Right-hander Alejandro Gonzalez took the mound for Puerto Rico and got the first out on strikes. Mingxin Zhang turned the first pitch he saw into the second hit of his game and cut the gap to 4-2. Alejandro Gonzalez ended the threat getting Shuai Wang to ground into a double play.

Puerto Rico got to reliever Huenchen Fu in the bottom half of the inning. Villegas led off with a single and advanced to third on a double by Randal Diaz.

China handed the ball to Yi Jun Li who hit Felix Morales to load the bases and allowed a run on one more RBI single by Luis Gonzalez. Li got John Montes to ground into an inning-ending double play.

China added a run in the top of the fifth, but stranded three runners. Alejandro Gonzalez allowed Xudong Zhu a leadoff double, hit Tianyuan Hu and left with one out in the top of the fifth. Ramon Rodriguez threw only seven pitches and left with the bases loaded after base hits by Yi Zhou and Aiqi Zhang cut the gap to 5-3.

Lucas Vega got the second out on strikes and got some help from shortstop Randal Diaz, who got beyond the second base bag to stop a grounder by Wentao Zhang and get the third out at first.

China made it a one run game in the top of the sixth. Xudong Zhu bunted for the hit with two outs, stole second and scored on Wenbin Xing's single.

Puerto Rico stroke right back with a three-run rally to open the score to 8-4. Randal Diaz doubled with a runner on, Edrick Felix followed with a two-RBI triple and Luis Gonzalez contributed with a sacrifice fly, his fourth RBI of the day.

Puerto Rico (3-1) will close the Opening Round facing No. 11 Colombia. China (2-2) will play what could become an elimination game with Australia.