<img alt="San Diego Padres v Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/depL8JpYrn9dLkNp-i8iH7fV4ow=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73725291/1250860741.0.jpg">
Photo by Matthew Grimes/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images
Adrianza’s two home runs helped Venezuela claim the top spot, while the United States blew out Mexico to move on to the Super Round. The United States were off on Wednesday, meaning we weren’t treated to the play of Drake Baldwin. USA Baseball and the rest of Group A have an important set matchups on Thursday to determine the two teams that will advance from Group A, with the United States just needing to win to get to the next round. In the games that were played former Braves prospect Ray-Patrick Didder had a fantastic game in a nail-biter against Mexico, while Group B play continued with two more games. Over in Taiwan, Braves prospect Luis Vargas got the start for the Dominican Republic, but he struggled in a loss to Australia.
SCOREBOARD
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GROUP A
Player of the DayEhire Adrianza, Venezuela3-3, 2 HR, 2B, BB, 5 RBI
Venezuela torched their way through a Group A win, and Ehire Adrianza had multiple big hits for them in their clinching win over the Netherlands. Adrianza’s two home runs helped extend the Venezuelan lead in the blowout, but his biggest hit was a first inning double that scored two runs to break the game open early. In total Adrianza drove in five of the 11 Venezuelan runs, leading them to the top spot in the group.
Pitcher of the Day: Ricardo Pinto, Venezuela5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Ricardo Pinto covered five scoreless innings in Venezuela’s opener against Mexico, so when he got the ball for their key matchup against the Netherlands there was confidence he could shut down a streaking lineup. Pinto delivered, once again throwing five scoreless innings, but this time upping his performance by only allowing three total baserunners. The Netherlands had no chance as Pinto carved through them, failing to get a single runner past first base in the game. Pinto totaled ten scoreless innings in group play.
GROUP B
Player of the DayShota Morishita, Japan2-3, HR, BB, 2 RBI
Shota Morishita has been dominant through two games for Team Japan, and has helped lead them to an easy 2-0 start. Morishita scored the first run of the game for Japan, and then later was the game-tying run on the go ahead hit for Japan. He capped off his performance with a long home run in the seventh inning that gave the Japanese bullpen breathing room — his third extra base hit in two games
Pitcher of the Day: Warwick Saupold3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
The Australian pitching staff is relying on a slew of arms to cover short stints, and Saupold was the starter for a dominant performance and Australia’s first win of the tournament. Saupold threw three hitless innings, a theme that his relievers would carry through the game. The Australian pitching staff didn’t allow a hit until the eighth inning, and that was the only hit they would allow collectively in the game.
NETHERLANDS 0 — 11 VENEZUELA
box score | replay
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PLAYERS OF THE GAMEEhire Adrianza, VEN: 3-3, 2 HR, 5 RBIHernan Perez, VEN: 4-4, HR, 2 2BRicardo Pinto, VEN: 5 IP, 0 H, 2 K
For all of the drama from the first four games for these sides, the final day of Group A play went a fairly mundane direction. The two leaders — Venezuela and the United States — blew out their opponents, removing any tension as to how the final standings would shape up as the final games drew to a close. Venezuela’s offense came out firing, loading the bases with one out in the first inning before a walk to Jermaine Palacios broke the seal. Diego Castillo trickled home another run with a sacrifice fly, but it was Ehire Adrianza who would put the game away time and time again throughout the content. Adrianza got an elevated changeup from Shairon Martis, and he turned and ripped a line drive into the right field corner that scored the remaining two runners on base and put Venezuela up 4-0.
Arepa Power! Venezuela is cruising so far against Netherlands, Herlis Rodriguez's solo shot put his team 5-0 up in the 3rd.#Premier12 || @Premier12 | @TeamBeisbolVE pic.twitter.com/87E9b7DOXr— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 14, 2024
Venezuela was certainly not done there, and they had plenty of time to pull further into the lead thanks to another brilliant showing from Ricardo Pinto. Pinto’s biggest trouble spot came right out of the opening of the game, when Didi Gregorius (who led group A in hits) started things off for the Netherlands with a single. Pinto would erase that quickly on a Jonathan Schoop double play ball, and the Netherlands never posed a serious threat to Pinto. Over the next four innings only two Dutch hitters scratched out base hits against Pinto, both coming with two outs and both immediately followed by outs to end the inning. For the second time this tournament Pinto gave Venezuela five scoreless innings, and the offense pulled away throughout to give Venezuela a run-rule win.
Venezuela win and is going to the Super Round in Tokyo! #Premier12 || @Premier12 | @TeamBeisbolVE pic.twitter.com/LxHhEqxIFr— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 14, 2024
The second inning was the only one during which Venezuela didn’t score. Hernan Perez doubled with two outs, but was thrown out trying to advance the play into a triple to get Martis out of the inning. The third inning went south on the first hitter though, with Herlis Rodriguez blasting a high fastball to straight away center field, bouncing one off the top of the wall for a solo home run. A double and a walk had Martis in more trouble, though he gained brief respite when he forced a double play from Luis Castillo. Unfortunately, this brought Adrianza to the plate, and he was not about to let Martis off the hook. Martis once again made a mistake, leaving a cutter right down broadway, and Adrianza chased right fielder back Donovan Selassa back to the wall with the fly ball. Selassa leaped to make a play, but it was in vain, the ball just clearing for a two-run home run that turned the screw just a bit more. Venezuela capped off the inning with a Francisco Arcia RBI single to make it 8-0 and just kept bombing the Netherlands pitchers. Hernan Perez led off in the fourth inning with a solo home run, then in the fifth Adrianza repeated that plot, giving Venezuela a 10-0 lead that put them in position to win on the run rule. For good measure Perez doubled and scored on a Dixon Machado single in the sixth inning, while Venezuela’s bullpen backed up Pinto with two scoreless innings. Venezuela heads on to the Super Round next week, where their first matchup will be against the second-place team from Group B
PUERTO RICO 3 — 4 PANAMA
box score | replay
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PLAYERS OF THE GAMESabin Ceballos, PUR: 3-4, HR, 2 RBILuis Castillo, PAN: 1-4, HR, 2 RBIEdgard Munoz, PAN: 2-4, HR
Panama had a chance to advance pending the result of the United States-Mexico game, and while their earlier loss to the United States ultimately doomed them to miss out of the Super Round, they put up a terrific fight to come from behind and beat Puerto Rico. Panama needed little time to take the advantage in the game, as Edgard Munoz wasn’t going to wait around on Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Bermudez. The first pitch out of Bermudez’s hand was launched over the left field wall, giving Panama a 1-0 lead. Panama had little other luck against Bermudez, however, who shut the Panama lineup down for four innings following that Munoz home run.
Edgard Muñoz homers to put Panama in front!#Premier12 || @Premier12 pic.twitter.com/hIBmv520MJ— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 15, 2024
Meanwhile Panama sent out Jaime Barria, who matched well with Bermudez and covered five innings of one-run ball. Barria only allowed one hit the first time through the lineup, keeping Panama on top, but when the lineup flipped he was greeted rudely by Ezequiel Pagan. Pagan gave Puerto Rico a lift as he has for much of the tournament, hitting an opposite field game-tying home run that would mark the only run Puerto Rico could manage off of Barria. Barria and Bermudez traded off shutdown innings, until finally Bermudez cracked again with one out in the fifth inning. Bermudez issued a one out walk to Jose Ramos, and Ramos was aggressive on the bases. Bermudez picked over to first base and Ramos was caught, taking off for second base with little chance of reaching, but a bad throw over to second from Shawn Ross allowed Ramos to reach safely. Bermudez got ahead of Joshwan Wright 0-2 in the count, but Wright somehow reached up and tagged a fastball above the zone, narrowly keeping it fair down the right field line for a go-ahead double. For now Wright had the biggest hit of the game, but Barria’s day was over and Puerto Rico was reading to take advantage. Javier Vaz clubbed a single off of new reliever Kenny Hernandez, but Hernandez got two outs and Puerto Rico was down to Sabin Ceballos to try to save a run-scoring opportunity. Ceballos electrified Puerto Rico’s bench, obliterating a high fastball for a no-doubt, go-ahead home run — his second massive home run of the tournament for Puerto Rico.
Wow, Sabin Ceballos!#Premier12 || @Premier12 | @BeisbolPR pic.twitter.com/SgRZ08dYcu— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 15, 2024
Luis Castillo homers and Panama is leading again! #Premier12 || @Premier12 pic.twitter.com/onOeBJTfvJ— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 15, 2024
Panama failed to answer immediately. They failed to get anything going in the sixth and seventh innings, but in the eighth the top of the lineup was due and Panama would have their best chance of making a comeback and ending their first Premier12 tournament with another win. Effort and baserunning would prove key for Panama. Edgard Munoz chopped one up the middle, but when shortstop Yadiel Rivera struggled to get the ball out of his glove he had to eat the play and Munoz reached with a leadoff single. A fly out marked the first out of the inning, and when Johnny Santos hit one sharply to the right side and Javier Vaz came up with it, Puerto Rico tried to turn a double play to end the threat. Vaz got the out at second, but Santos was quick down the line and there was no chance. Luis Castillo came up as the final hope in the inning, and he gave Panama the lift they needed. Castillo got a slider that stayed up enough for him to handle it, and he hit a towering fly ball out into right field, forcing Pagan to drift over against the wall. The ball kept on carrying, and though Pagan leaped it descended just past his glove and into the bullpen for a go-ahead, two-run home run. Ceballos led off in the ninth, but he couldn’t come up with magic again, flying one lazily out to right field. Alberto Baldonado finished off Jaime Ferrer and Shawn Ross with ease, closing out a win for Panama in their final game.
UNITED STATES 12 — 2 Mexico
box score | replay
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PLAYERS OF THE GAMERyan Ward, USA: 2-4, 2 HR, 3 RBITermarr Johnson, USA: 3-4, HRJustin Crawford, USA: 3-4, HR
The United States came into this game knowing their job was simple. They needed to win, and they were on to the Super Round. Mexico would need help, a win from Puerto Rico, and though they didn’t know it at the time their only job in the game was to try to play spoiler and give Panama a surprise berth in the Super Round. Mexico jumped out to a lead off of Rich Hill in the first inning, errors from him and Termarr Johnson allowing Andres Alvarez to score the first run of the game, but it wasn’t meant to be for the host nation. The United States kept pouring on runs throughout, eventually run-ruling Mexico 12-2. Johnson’s first inning error could have been a critical moment for USA Baseball, and things could have fallen apart, but Johnson made sure to make up for that mistake in a big way in the very next half inning. Johnson unloaded on a hanging slider, banging one off of the top of the scoreboard for a two-run home run and a 2-1 USA lead. The Americans never again trailed in the game, and Johnson’s three hits, two RBI, and three runs scored were a huge part of their blowout.
Termarr Johnson sending that ball far! #Premier12 || @Premier12 | @USABaseball pic.twitter.com/Yd3DXlTlKW— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 15, 2024
Home runs became a familiar theme for the USA, and Justin Crawford was the man behind the second of them. Crawford smoked a sinker that was running away from him, lifting it out to left field where he was narrowly able to clear the wall to extend the lead to 3-1 in favor of the United States. The other theme from this game was Chandler Simpson, his speed and contact ability posing a problem for every team in Group A thus far. Simpson singled following Crawford, swiped second and third base, then trotted home on a fielder’s choice for the third run. Simpson reached base four times in this game, stole three bases, and contributed for runs to the United States. Simpson’s first RBI came in the next inning, when he clocked a base hit up the middle to score Crawford and extend the American lead to 6-1.
Watch it fly, Ryan Ward! #Premier12 || @Premier12 pic.twitter.com/NYmqSnCYG8— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 15, 2024
Rich Hill pitched marvelously for the United States, his error in the first inning aside, keeping Mexico at bay while the offense opened up a huge lead. Hill struck out six batters and didn’t allow an earned run over 3 1⁄3 innings, eventually turning the ball over in the fourth inning to Antonio Menendez. Menendez and the rest of the USA bullpen was terrific, covering 3 2⁄3 innings with only one run allowed. The later innings were marked by the show from Ryan Ward, who hit two home runs to take the Group A lead in home runs for the tournament. Ward hit four in group play — no one else in Group A had more than two. Alan Trejo’s seventh inning home run was the only earned run Mexico was able to score, but even that wasn’t enough to prevent the run rule and the USA advancing due to their head-to-head win over Panama.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 0 — 5 AUSTRALIA
box score | replay
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PLAYERS OF THE GAMERobbie Perkins, AUS: 2-3, HR, 4 RBIWarwick Saupold, AUS: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 RCoen Wynne, AUS: 2 IP, 0 H, 3 K
Australia picked up their first win of the tournament with a big 5-0 over the Dominican Republic. Braves prospect Luis Vargas got the start for the Dominican Republic and was solid - lasting 2 2/3rds innings and giving up two earned runs. Vargas saw the minimum through two innings as he worked around a first inning single by Aaron Whitefield before getting the next hitter, Robbie Glendinning, to ground into a double play. After a quick 1-2-3 inning by the Dominican Republic against Australia starter Warwick Saupold, Vargas matched him getting three fly outs of his own to keep the game at 0-0. The third inning is when disaster struck for the Braves prospect as he gave up a lead off triple to Alex Hall before allowing the next hitter, Robbie Perkins, to clear the center field fences to put Australia up 2-0.
Robbie Perkins crushes it into orbit – two runs scored! ⚾️#Premier12 || @Premier12 | @TeamAusBaseball pic.twitter.com/fAZH9sJMp9— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 15, 2024
Vargas would then walk the next batter before getting the top pick of the MLB draft, Travis Bazzana, to ground into a forceout - which would be his final batter of the day. Vargas’ final line was 2.1IP 3H 2ER 1BB 0K. With a runner on second, Dominican reliever Henry Henry would walk the first batter he would face, Aaron Whitefield, to put runners on 1st and 2nd with one out before striking out Robbie Glendinning and getting Rixon Wingrove to ground out to end the threat.
After a quick 1-2-3 inning for the Dominican Republic bats, Australia would tack on another run in the fourth inning as Robbie Perkins would single in Tim Kennelly, who had singled to start the inning, to push their lead to 3-0. That lead would stay until the sixth inning when Darryl George would open up the inning with a single, move to third on a single by the next batter Alex Hall, and come into score on a sacrifice fly by Robbie Perkins to grow the Australian lead to 4-0.
That lead would last exactly half an inning as Australia would tack on yet another run in the seventh inning, this time against a former Braves prospect, Jorge Juan, who pitched for the Mississippi Braves this last season. Jorge would start the inning with a walk of Robbie Glendinning before striking out the next batter. Robbie would steal second before coming home on a single by Tim Kennelly to grow the Australia lead to a sizable 5-0. That’s all that they would need as the Australia pitching staff were absolutely fantastic. Five pitchers (Warwick Saupold, Sam Holland, Luke Wilkens, Coen Wynne, Jon Kennedy, and Daniel McGrath) would combine to surrender just a single hit while striking out six.
The game was Australia’s first win of the tournament, and a disappointing second loss for the Dominican Republic who are now 1.5 games behind group leaders Chinese Taipei.
KOREA 3 — 6 JAPAN
box score | replay
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PLAYERS OF THE GAMEShota Morashita, JPN: 2-3, HR, 2 RBIDongwon Park, KOR: 2-4, HRShugo Maki, JPN: 2-4, HR
Japan and Korea faced off in one of the premier matchups of group play, and it lived up to the billing early on. The Korean side controlled the early parts of the game, though missed opportunities to generate crooked innings would cause them issues as the offense went cold in the second half of the game. Changki Hong led off the game with a base hit, getting advanced on a sacrifice bunt that would give the middle of the Korean lineup multiple chances to score. In a key spot Doyeong Kim struck out swinging, but Korea would have one more chance to get a hit in a big spot. Bogyeong Kim sliced a hard liner through the left side of the infield for a base hit, but the combination of how hard the ball was hit and the speed of the turf gave a friendly bounce to the left fielder and Hong had to hold up at third base. Seungyeup Na struck out, ending a key early chance for Korea.
Seungyong Choi pitched an easy first inning to swing the game right back to the Korean offense, and this time they would take advantage of their opportunity. Dongwon Park’s one out rocket down the left field line turned into a double, giving the Korean team another chance with runners in scoring position. Once again Japan’s starter Hiroto Takahashi came through with a big out, but he was unable to come up with a perfectly placed grounder to the right side and an infield single flipped the lineup over. There, Hong came through with the base hit they needed early, scoring Park and not letting Takahashi off the hook again. The Korean side was able to get to Takahashi, notching seven hits, but when he needed outs he always seemed to make the big pitch. Takahashi racked up eight strikeouts over four innings, and the Korean lineup seemed to struggle as he pounded them his his four seamer and sinker throughout the game.
Choi on the other hand couldn’t escape when he got into second inning trouble, and Japan’s ability to put together multi-run innings was key to the theme of the game. Shota Morishita led off the inning with a single, and a subsequent hit from Ryoya Kurihara had Choi in danger of letting the game slip away early. Choi got two big outs though, getting within a strike of escaping unscathed, before a ground ball off of the bat of Kotaro Kurebayashi rolled just past a diving Doyeong Kim at third base, scoring Morishita and Kurebayashi to give Japan the lead.
As for Kim, he played a critical role in this game, but unlike the first two games where he came through in big spots for Korea, he was shut down by the Japanese pitching staff along with the rest of the middle of Korea’s lineup. While Korea piled up ten hits in the game only two came from the 2-4 spots in the order, leaving multiple potential runs on the board that even one clutch hit from that group could have helped. Yeongchan You was the one pitcher for Korea that really had success shutting down the Japanese offense, and his 2 2⁄3 innings of scoreless pitching were critical in Korea’s efforts to come back. In the top of the fourth inning Dongwon Park was responsible for the big swing they needed. Takahashi, who had been sharp all game, left a slider up and over the middle of the plate. Park took advantage of the mistake, blasting a solo home run to left field that knotted the game up. In the top of the fifth inning Korea got the leadoff man on again, a base hit from Minjae Shin, but Kim in the three hole and Moon in the fourth both failed to get on base. Korea turned to Donghee Yoon to pinch hit, and Yoon delivered. Yoon fell behind 1-2 in the count, but after laying off a changeup in the dirt Japanese reliever Chihiro Sumida had to challenge Yoon in the zone with a fastball. Yoon was sitting red, and he turned around Sumida’s heat and blistered one into the gap for a go-ahead double. Sumida prevented further damage with a strikeout, another of the themes of the game for Korea. Japan struck out 17 hitters, each time Korea seemed to get a rally started they would come up with a strikeout in a big spot to prevent runners advancing and keep damage limited.
Shota Morishita, ladies and gents! #Premier12 || @Premier12 pic.twitter.com/7Q9zaKo95W— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 15, 2024
Immediately following them taking the lead Japan once again took it back. Dogyu Kwak was brought in to relieve You in the fifth inning, and he struggled to find his location consistently. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with two outs, and once again Korea was forced to pull up another bullpen arm to get a right on right matchup. Youngha Lee got Shugo Maki to take a bad swing over a slider, but Maki made an adjustment when Lee when back to that well. Maki slapped a slider on the outer edge up the middle, scoring two Japan runners to give them the lead. Korea wouldn’t be able to overcome the deficit this time. They had just one hit the remainder of the game. In the seventh inning Morishita added to the lead, crushing a two run home run to left center field to push the gap to 6-3 where it would remain. For Japan, they head now into a matchup with Taiwan, the other 2-0 team in the group, in the biggest game for the group so far. Korea on the other hand will have to win their final two games to stay alive, even in that case needing help without the tie-breaker against both Japan and Taiwan.
Schedule for November 16th
Australia (1-1) vs Cuba (0-2) — 12:00 PM Local/11:00 PM EST (NOV 15)
Venue: Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium - Taipei City, Taipei
How to Watch: DAZN
Japan (2-0) vs Chinese Taipei (2-0) — 6:00 PM Local/5:00 AM EST
Venue: Taipei Dome - Taipei City, Taipei
How to Watch: DAZN
Dominican Republic (1-2) vs Korea (1-2) — 6:30 PM Local/5:30 AM EST
Venue: Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium - Taipei City, Taipei
How to Watch: DAZN
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Photo by Matthew Grimes/Atlanta Braves/Getty Images
Adrianza’s two home runs helped Venezuela claim the top spot, while the United States blew out Mexico to move on to the Super Round. The United States were off on Wednesday, meaning we weren’t treated to the play of Drake Baldwin. USA Baseball and the rest of Group A have an important set matchups on Thursday to determine the two teams that will advance from Group A, with the United States just needing to win to get to the next round. In the games that were played former Braves prospect Ray-Patrick Didder had a fantastic game in a nail-biter against Mexico, while Group B play continued with two more games. Over in Taiwan, Braves prospect Luis Vargas got the start for the Dominican Republic, but he struggled in a loss to Australia.
SCOREBOARD
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GROUP A
Player of the DayEhire Adrianza, Venezuela3-3, 2 HR, 2B, BB, 5 RBI
Venezuela torched their way through a Group A win, and Ehire Adrianza had multiple big hits for them in their clinching win over the Netherlands. Adrianza’s two home runs helped extend the Venezuelan lead in the blowout, but his biggest hit was a first inning double that scored two runs to break the game open early. In total Adrianza drove in five of the 11 Venezuelan runs, leading them to the top spot in the group.
Pitcher of the Day: Ricardo Pinto, Venezuela5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Ricardo Pinto covered five scoreless innings in Venezuela’s opener against Mexico, so when he got the ball for their key matchup against the Netherlands there was confidence he could shut down a streaking lineup. Pinto delivered, once again throwing five scoreless innings, but this time upping his performance by only allowing three total baserunners. The Netherlands had no chance as Pinto carved through them, failing to get a single runner past first base in the game. Pinto totaled ten scoreless innings in group play.
GROUP B
Player of the DayShota Morishita, Japan2-3, HR, BB, 2 RBI
Shota Morishita has been dominant through two games for Team Japan, and has helped lead them to an easy 2-0 start. Morishita scored the first run of the game for Japan, and then later was the game-tying run on the go ahead hit for Japan. He capped off his performance with a long home run in the seventh inning that gave the Japanese bullpen breathing room — his third extra base hit in two games
Pitcher of the Day: Warwick Saupold3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
The Australian pitching staff is relying on a slew of arms to cover short stints, and Saupold was the starter for a dominant performance and Australia’s first win of the tournament. Saupold threw three hitless innings, a theme that his relievers would carry through the game. The Australian pitching staff didn’t allow a hit until the eighth inning, and that was the only hit they would allow collectively in the game.
NETHERLANDS 0 — 11 VENEZUELA
box score | replay
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PLAYERS OF THE GAMEEhire Adrianza, VEN: 3-3, 2 HR, 5 RBIHernan Perez, VEN: 4-4, HR, 2 2BRicardo Pinto, VEN: 5 IP, 0 H, 2 K
For all of the drama from the first four games for these sides, the final day of Group A play went a fairly mundane direction. The two leaders — Venezuela and the United States — blew out their opponents, removing any tension as to how the final standings would shape up as the final games drew to a close. Venezuela’s offense came out firing, loading the bases with one out in the first inning before a walk to Jermaine Palacios broke the seal. Diego Castillo trickled home another run with a sacrifice fly, but it was Ehire Adrianza who would put the game away time and time again throughout the content. Adrianza got an elevated changeup from Shairon Martis, and he turned and ripped a line drive into the right field corner that scored the remaining two runners on base and put Venezuela up 4-0.
Arepa Power! Venezuela is cruising so far against Netherlands, Herlis Rodriguez's solo shot put his team 5-0 up in the 3rd.#Premier12 || @Premier12 | @TeamBeisbolVE pic.twitter.com/87E9b7DOXr— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 14, 2024
Venezuela was certainly not done there, and they had plenty of time to pull further into the lead thanks to another brilliant showing from Ricardo Pinto. Pinto’s biggest trouble spot came right out of the opening of the game, when Didi Gregorius (who led group A in hits) started things off for the Netherlands with a single. Pinto would erase that quickly on a Jonathan Schoop double play ball, and the Netherlands never posed a serious threat to Pinto. Over the next four innings only two Dutch hitters scratched out base hits against Pinto, both coming with two outs and both immediately followed by outs to end the inning. For the second time this tournament Pinto gave Venezuela five scoreless innings, and the offense pulled away throughout to give Venezuela a run-rule win.
Venezuela win and is going to the Super Round in Tokyo! #Premier12 || @Premier12 | @TeamBeisbolVE pic.twitter.com/LxHhEqxIFr— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 14, 2024
The second inning was the only one during which Venezuela didn’t score. Hernan Perez doubled with two outs, but was thrown out trying to advance the play into a triple to get Martis out of the inning. The third inning went south on the first hitter though, with Herlis Rodriguez blasting a high fastball to straight away center field, bouncing one off the top of the wall for a solo home run. A double and a walk had Martis in more trouble, though he gained brief respite when he forced a double play from Luis Castillo. Unfortunately, this brought Adrianza to the plate, and he was not about to let Martis off the hook. Martis once again made a mistake, leaving a cutter right down broadway, and Adrianza chased right fielder back Donovan Selassa back to the wall with the fly ball. Selassa leaped to make a play, but it was in vain, the ball just clearing for a two-run home run that turned the screw just a bit more. Venezuela capped off the inning with a Francisco Arcia RBI single to make it 8-0 and just kept bombing the Netherlands pitchers. Hernan Perez led off in the fourth inning with a solo home run, then in the fifth Adrianza repeated that plot, giving Venezuela a 10-0 lead that put them in position to win on the run rule. For good measure Perez doubled and scored on a Dixon Machado single in the sixth inning, while Venezuela’s bullpen backed up Pinto with two scoreless innings. Venezuela heads on to the Super Round next week, where their first matchup will be against the second-place team from Group B
PUERTO RICO 3 — 4 PANAMA
box score | replay
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PLAYERS OF THE GAMESabin Ceballos, PUR: 3-4, HR, 2 RBILuis Castillo, PAN: 1-4, HR, 2 RBIEdgard Munoz, PAN: 2-4, HR
Panama had a chance to advance pending the result of the United States-Mexico game, and while their earlier loss to the United States ultimately doomed them to miss out of the Super Round, they put up a terrific fight to come from behind and beat Puerto Rico. Panama needed little time to take the advantage in the game, as Edgard Munoz wasn’t going to wait around on Puerto Rico’s Jonathan Bermudez. The first pitch out of Bermudez’s hand was launched over the left field wall, giving Panama a 1-0 lead. Panama had little other luck against Bermudez, however, who shut the Panama lineup down for four innings following that Munoz home run.
Edgard Muñoz homers to put Panama in front!#Premier12 || @Premier12 pic.twitter.com/hIBmv520MJ— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 15, 2024
Meanwhile Panama sent out Jaime Barria, who matched well with Bermudez and covered five innings of one-run ball. Barria only allowed one hit the first time through the lineup, keeping Panama on top, but when the lineup flipped he was greeted rudely by Ezequiel Pagan. Pagan gave Puerto Rico a lift as he has for much of the tournament, hitting an opposite field game-tying home run that would mark the only run Puerto Rico could manage off of Barria. Barria and Bermudez traded off shutdown innings, until finally Bermudez cracked again with one out in the fifth inning. Bermudez issued a one out walk to Jose Ramos, and Ramos was aggressive on the bases. Bermudez picked over to first base and Ramos was caught, taking off for second base with little chance of reaching, but a bad throw over to second from Shawn Ross allowed Ramos to reach safely. Bermudez got ahead of Joshwan Wright 0-2 in the count, but Wright somehow reached up and tagged a fastball above the zone, narrowly keeping it fair down the right field line for a go-ahead double. For now Wright had the biggest hit of the game, but Barria’s day was over and Puerto Rico was reading to take advantage. Javier Vaz clubbed a single off of new reliever Kenny Hernandez, but Hernandez got two outs and Puerto Rico was down to Sabin Ceballos to try to save a run-scoring opportunity. Ceballos electrified Puerto Rico’s bench, obliterating a high fastball for a no-doubt, go-ahead home run — his second massive home run of the tournament for Puerto Rico.
Wow, Sabin Ceballos!#Premier12 || @Premier12 | @BeisbolPR pic.twitter.com/SgRZ08dYcu— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 15, 2024
Luis Castillo homers and Panama is leading again! #Premier12 || @Premier12 pic.twitter.com/onOeBJTfvJ— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 15, 2024
Panama failed to answer immediately. They failed to get anything going in the sixth and seventh innings, but in the eighth the top of the lineup was due and Panama would have their best chance of making a comeback and ending their first Premier12 tournament with another win. Effort and baserunning would prove key for Panama. Edgard Munoz chopped one up the middle, but when shortstop Yadiel Rivera struggled to get the ball out of his glove he had to eat the play and Munoz reached with a leadoff single. A fly out marked the first out of the inning, and when Johnny Santos hit one sharply to the right side and Javier Vaz came up with it, Puerto Rico tried to turn a double play to end the threat. Vaz got the out at second, but Santos was quick down the line and there was no chance. Luis Castillo came up as the final hope in the inning, and he gave Panama the lift they needed. Castillo got a slider that stayed up enough for him to handle it, and he hit a towering fly ball out into right field, forcing Pagan to drift over against the wall. The ball kept on carrying, and though Pagan leaped it descended just past his glove and into the bullpen for a go-ahead, two-run home run. Ceballos led off in the ninth, but he couldn’t come up with magic again, flying one lazily out to right field. Alberto Baldonado finished off Jaime Ferrer and Shawn Ross with ease, closing out a win for Panama in their final game.
UNITED STATES 12 — 2 Mexico
box score | replay
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PLAYERS OF THE GAMERyan Ward, USA: 2-4, 2 HR, 3 RBITermarr Johnson, USA: 3-4, HRJustin Crawford, USA: 3-4, HR
The United States came into this game knowing their job was simple. They needed to win, and they were on to the Super Round. Mexico would need help, a win from Puerto Rico, and though they didn’t know it at the time their only job in the game was to try to play spoiler and give Panama a surprise berth in the Super Round. Mexico jumped out to a lead off of Rich Hill in the first inning, errors from him and Termarr Johnson allowing Andres Alvarez to score the first run of the game, but it wasn’t meant to be for the host nation. The United States kept pouring on runs throughout, eventually run-ruling Mexico 12-2. Johnson’s first inning error could have been a critical moment for USA Baseball, and things could have fallen apart, but Johnson made sure to make up for that mistake in a big way in the very next half inning. Johnson unloaded on a hanging slider, banging one off of the top of the scoreboard for a two-run home run and a 2-1 USA lead. The Americans never again trailed in the game, and Johnson’s three hits, two RBI, and three runs scored were a huge part of their blowout.
Termarr Johnson sending that ball far! #Premier12 || @Premier12 | @USABaseball pic.twitter.com/Yd3DXlTlKW— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 15, 2024
Home runs became a familiar theme for the USA, and Justin Crawford was the man behind the second of them. Crawford smoked a sinker that was running away from him, lifting it out to left field where he was narrowly able to clear the wall to extend the lead to 3-1 in favor of the United States. The other theme from this game was Chandler Simpson, his speed and contact ability posing a problem for every team in Group A thus far. Simpson singled following Crawford, swiped second and third base, then trotted home on a fielder’s choice for the third run. Simpson reached base four times in this game, stole three bases, and contributed for runs to the United States. Simpson’s first RBI came in the next inning, when he clocked a base hit up the middle to score Crawford and extend the American lead to 6-1.
Watch it fly, Ryan Ward! #Premier12 || @Premier12 pic.twitter.com/NYmqSnCYG8— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 15, 2024
Rich Hill pitched marvelously for the United States, his error in the first inning aside, keeping Mexico at bay while the offense opened up a huge lead. Hill struck out six batters and didn’t allow an earned run over 3 1⁄3 innings, eventually turning the ball over in the fourth inning to Antonio Menendez. Menendez and the rest of the USA bullpen was terrific, covering 3 2⁄3 innings with only one run allowed. The later innings were marked by the show from Ryan Ward, who hit two home runs to take the Group A lead in home runs for the tournament. Ward hit four in group play — no one else in Group A had more than two. Alan Trejo’s seventh inning home run was the only earned run Mexico was able to score, but even that wasn’t enough to prevent the run rule and the USA advancing due to their head-to-head win over Panama.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 0 — 5 AUSTRALIA
box score | replay
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PLAYERS OF THE GAMERobbie Perkins, AUS: 2-3, HR, 4 RBIWarwick Saupold, AUS: 3 IP, 0 H, 0 RCoen Wynne, AUS: 2 IP, 0 H, 3 K
Australia picked up their first win of the tournament with a big 5-0 over the Dominican Republic. Braves prospect Luis Vargas got the start for the Dominican Republic and was solid - lasting 2 2/3rds innings and giving up two earned runs. Vargas saw the minimum through two innings as he worked around a first inning single by Aaron Whitefield before getting the next hitter, Robbie Glendinning, to ground into a double play. After a quick 1-2-3 inning by the Dominican Republic against Australia starter Warwick Saupold, Vargas matched him getting three fly outs of his own to keep the game at 0-0. The third inning is when disaster struck for the Braves prospect as he gave up a lead off triple to Alex Hall before allowing the next hitter, Robbie Perkins, to clear the center field fences to put Australia up 2-0.
Robbie Perkins crushes it into orbit – two runs scored! ⚾️#Premier12 || @Premier12 | @TeamAusBaseball pic.twitter.com/fAZH9sJMp9— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 15, 2024
Vargas would then walk the next batter before getting the top pick of the MLB draft, Travis Bazzana, to ground into a forceout - which would be his final batter of the day. Vargas’ final line was 2.1IP 3H 2ER 1BB 0K. With a runner on second, Dominican reliever Henry Henry would walk the first batter he would face, Aaron Whitefield, to put runners on 1st and 2nd with one out before striking out Robbie Glendinning and getting Rixon Wingrove to ground out to end the threat.
After a quick 1-2-3 inning for the Dominican Republic bats, Australia would tack on another run in the fourth inning as Robbie Perkins would single in Tim Kennelly, who had singled to start the inning, to push their lead to 3-0. That lead would stay until the sixth inning when Darryl George would open up the inning with a single, move to third on a single by the next batter Alex Hall, and come into score on a sacrifice fly by Robbie Perkins to grow the Australian lead to 4-0.
That lead would last exactly half an inning as Australia would tack on yet another run in the seventh inning, this time against a former Braves prospect, Jorge Juan, who pitched for the Mississippi Braves this last season. Jorge would start the inning with a walk of Robbie Glendinning before striking out the next batter. Robbie would steal second before coming home on a single by Tim Kennelly to grow the Australia lead to a sizable 5-0. That’s all that they would need as the Australia pitching staff were absolutely fantastic. Five pitchers (Warwick Saupold, Sam Holland, Luke Wilkens, Coen Wynne, Jon Kennedy, and Daniel McGrath) would combine to surrender just a single hit while striking out six.
The game was Australia’s first win of the tournament, and a disappointing second loss for the Dominican Republic who are now 1.5 games behind group leaders Chinese Taipei.
KOREA 3 — 6 JAPAN
box score | replay
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PLAYERS OF THE GAMEShota Morashita, JPN: 2-3, HR, 2 RBIDongwon Park, KOR: 2-4, HRShugo Maki, JPN: 2-4, HR
Japan and Korea faced off in one of the premier matchups of group play, and it lived up to the billing early on. The Korean side controlled the early parts of the game, though missed opportunities to generate crooked innings would cause them issues as the offense went cold in the second half of the game. Changki Hong led off the game with a base hit, getting advanced on a sacrifice bunt that would give the middle of the Korean lineup multiple chances to score. In a key spot Doyeong Kim struck out swinging, but Korea would have one more chance to get a hit in a big spot. Bogyeong Kim sliced a hard liner through the left side of the infield for a base hit, but the combination of how hard the ball was hit and the speed of the turf gave a friendly bounce to the left fielder and Hong had to hold up at third base. Seungyeup Na struck out, ending a key early chance for Korea.
Seungyong Choi pitched an easy first inning to swing the game right back to the Korean offense, and this time they would take advantage of their opportunity. Dongwon Park’s one out rocket down the left field line turned into a double, giving the Korean team another chance with runners in scoring position. Once again Japan’s starter Hiroto Takahashi came through with a big out, but he was unable to come up with a perfectly placed grounder to the right side and an infield single flipped the lineup over. There, Hong came through with the base hit they needed early, scoring Park and not letting Takahashi off the hook again. The Korean side was able to get to Takahashi, notching seven hits, but when he needed outs he always seemed to make the big pitch. Takahashi racked up eight strikeouts over four innings, and the Korean lineup seemed to struggle as he pounded them his his four seamer and sinker throughout the game.
Choi on the other hand couldn’t escape when he got into second inning trouble, and Japan’s ability to put together multi-run innings was key to the theme of the game. Shota Morishita led off the inning with a single, and a subsequent hit from Ryoya Kurihara had Choi in danger of letting the game slip away early. Choi got two big outs though, getting within a strike of escaping unscathed, before a ground ball off of the bat of Kotaro Kurebayashi rolled just past a diving Doyeong Kim at third base, scoring Morishita and Kurebayashi to give Japan the lead.
As for Kim, he played a critical role in this game, but unlike the first two games where he came through in big spots for Korea, he was shut down by the Japanese pitching staff along with the rest of the middle of Korea’s lineup. While Korea piled up ten hits in the game only two came from the 2-4 spots in the order, leaving multiple potential runs on the board that even one clutch hit from that group could have helped. Yeongchan You was the one pitcher for Korea that really had success shutting down the Japanese offense, and his 2 2⁄3 innings of scoreless pitching were critical in Korea’s efforts to come back. In the top of the fourth inning Dongwon Park was responsible for the big swing they needed. Takahashi, who had been sharp all game, left a slider up and over the middle of the plate. Park took advantage of the mistake, blasting a solo home run to left field that knotted the game up. In the top of the fifth inning Korea got the leadoff man on again, a base hit from Minjae Shin, but Kim in the three hole and Moon in the fourth both failed to get on base. Korea turned to Donghee Yoon to pinch hit, and Yoon delivered. Yoon fell behind 1-2 in the count, but after laying off a changeup in the dirt Japanese reliever Chihiro Sumida had to challenge Yoon in the zone with a fastball. Yoon was sitting red, and he turned around Sumida’s heat and blistered one into the gap for a go-ahead double. Sumida prevented further damage with a strikeout, another of the themes of the game for Korea. Japan struck out 17 hitters, each time Korea seemed to get a rally started they would come up with a strikeout in a big spot to prevent runners advancing and keep damage limited.
Shota Morishita, ladies and gents! #Premier12 || @Premier12 pic.twitter.com/7Q9zaKo95W— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 15, 2024
Immediately following them taking the lead Japan once again took it back. Dogyu Kwak was brought in to relieve You in the fifth inning, and he struggled to find his location consistently. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases with two outs, and once again Korea was forced to pull up another bullpen arm to get a right on right matchup. Youngha Lee got Shugo Maki to take a bad swing over a slider, but Maki made an adjustment when Lee when back to that well. Maki slapped a slider on the outer edge up the middle, scoring two Japan runners to give them the lead. Korea wouldn’t be able to overcome the deficit this time. They had just one hit the remainder of the game. In the seventh inning Morishita added to the lead, crushing a two run home run to left center field to push the gap to 6-3 where it would remain. For Japan, they head now into a matchup with Taiwan, the other 2-0 team in the group, in the biggest game for the group so far. Korea on the other hand will have to win their final two games to stay alive, even in that case needing help without the tie-breaker against both Japan and Taiwan.
Schedule for November 16th
Australia (1-1) vs Cuba (0-2) — 12:00 PM Local/11:00 PM EST (NOV 15)
Venue: Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium - Taipei City, Taipei
How to Watch: DAZN
Japan (2-0) vs Chinese Taipei (2-0) — 6:00 PM Local/5:00 AM EST
Venue: Taipei Dome - Taipei City, Taipei
How to Watch: DAZN
Dominican Republic (1-2) vs Korea (1-2) — 6:30 PM Local/5:30 AM EST
Venue: Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium - Taipei City, Taipei
How to Watch: DAZN
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