<img alt="Cuba v Japan: Group B - WBSC Premier12" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VQuJ-TWmNNzfGWjSMCDhy9Bcl4A=/0x0:5478x3652/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73728894/2185238191.0.jpg">
Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images
Japan and Cuba played one down to the wire, but the predictable result came to be and the Super Round schedule is now set The stage is now set for Drake Baldwin and USA baseball, with Group B’s action on Sunday sealing the schedule for the Super Round. Baldwin and the United States will face Japan on November 21st, Chinese Taipei on November 22nd, and then Venezuela on November 23rd. All games will be in the Tokyo Dome, and the United States will advance either to the Gold Medal or Bronze Medal game on the 24th.
As for the games on Sunday, a win from Japan and Chinese Taipei would be the least interesting scenario with regards to final day of play, and that’s what played out. Taiwan dominated Australia, the lone game to feature a former Braves player or prospect. Jon Kennedy, who threw 23 innings of relief to a 2.74 ERA for the 2016 Rome South Atlantic League championship team, pitched 1 2⁄3 innings of scoreless relief for Australia. Kennedy last pitched with the Florida Fire Frogs in 2019. The other game, Cuba vs Japan, was one of the best of the tournament and one of the most exciting games I’ve ever seen. The mighty Samurai Japan took and early lead, but Cuba fought back in an effort to keep their hopes alive in the group and it led to a dramatic conclusion in the later innings.
SCOREBOARD
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Player of the DayLi Lin, Chinese Taipei5-6, HR, 4 RBI
Taiwan’s offense exploded in their win over Australia, and Lin’s contributions were the most critical to those efforts. Lin found himself smack in the middle of each of Taiwan’s major rallies in the game, and he came through each time, racking up five hits in the game. The biggest came in the seventh inning. Taiwan, though they had dominated, had some shaky moments and hadn’t yet had the breakout hit to seal the game. Lin stepped in with two runners on and crushed a home run, putting Taiwan up 8-1 and sealing their spot in the Super Round.
Pitcher of the Day: Chun-Lin Kuo, Chinese Taipei3 2⁄3 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Taiwan clinched their spot in the Super Round on Sunday, and it was Kuo’s pitching in the early stages of the game that allowed them to come away with the win. Kuo, save a solo home run, was able to shut down Australia any time they even sniffed an effort at a big inning, most notably in the second inning. Leading 2-0 Kuo gave up hits to the first two batters of the inning, that lead suddenly in jeopardy. Kuo responded by striking out the next three hitters in order, stranding what would come to be Australia’s best chance to get into the game.
CUBA 6 — 7 JAPAN
box score | replay
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PLAYERS OF THE GAMEYadir Drake, CUB: 3-5, 2B, 2 RBIKeita Sano, JPN: 2-3, 2 RBIRoel Santos, CUB: 1-3, 3 R, 2 BB
The night started out as most have for Japan over the past few years, with dominance from the pitching staff and a relentless offense allowing them to open up a commanding early lead. Takahashi Hayakawa was brilliant, facing the minimum through three innings, and this Cuban side who has struggled throughout this tournament seemed to have no answers early. Japan jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning, the as wildness from Cuban starter Raymond Figueredo was problematic for him. He may have set down two Japanese batters on strikes in the inning, but he also hit Shota Morishita and walked Sosuke Genda to bring up Keita Sano with two runners on. Figuerado worked ahead of Sano 0-2, pounding him with his sinking fastball, but Figueredo went to the well one too many times and Sano sat on it and ripped a single into center field to give Japan a 1-0 lead. Figueredo wouldn’t even record an out in the third inning, allowing two hits and a walk to load the bases for the dangerous Morishita. Seeing their chances slip away it was a quick hook for Figueredo, Yusniel Padron now responsible for what could have been a chance for Japan to take command early. Padron got Morishita to fly out to center field, a play that scored a run, but Cuba escaped relatively unscathed from that scoring chance. Geonel Gutierrez came in and struck out the next two batters to strand two, giving Cuba a dash of life to carry the rest of the game.
Samurais strike first! Keita Sano’s clutch RBI drives in Japan’s opening run against Cuba! ⚾️ #Premier12 || @Premier12 | @samuraijapan_pr pic.twitter.com/g5sqfqWRFg— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 17, 2024
Cuba had a much better time sitting on Hayakawa the second time through the lineup, and Roel Santos led off in the top of the fourth inning with a triple that gave Cuba a significant threat. Yadir Drake followed by cutting the lead in half with a single, but Hayakawa’s ability to get timely strikeouts would prove pivotal at this point in the game. Hayakawa recorded seven strikeouts, none more important than the two that immediately followed a walk to Alfredo Despaigne, stranding two Cuban runners and protecting Japan’s lead. Japan would keep adding on. A run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth answered the Cuban rally, and when Gutierrez was pulled Japan was able to add on even more runs in the fifth inning. A Shugo Maki RBI single would extend the lead to 4-1, and Japan threatened more with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Sano blistered a fly ball to center field, but Santos was everywhere, tracking down the fly ball to save multiple runs, though one would come in to score and extend the lead to 5-1.
Cuba came to play tonight! ✨ Yadir Drake smacks one through the left side, bringing Roel Santos home for their first run! ⚾ #Premier12 || @Premier12 | @CubanaBeisbol pic.twitter.com/1GrPy4D3hq— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 17, 2024
Then, things got interesting awfully quickly. Hayakawa had cruised through the fifth inning, but in the sixth the Cuban lineup got a third look at him and they seemed to be making the adjustments they needed. Once again it was the work of Santos — a leadoff walk this time — that started the engine. Yadir Drake smoked a Hayakawa changeup that stayed in the zone, crushing one out to left field the pinged off of the bottom of the wall to score Santos from first base. Hayakawa got one of those strikeouts he needed, but a walk to Despaigne closed the books on Hayakawa’s day. Rikuto Yokoyama got a quick out, but he wasn’t able top stop the bleeding. Erisbel Arruebarruena drove a single into left field to score Drake, cutting the lead for Japan back to two runs. In the biggest spot in the tournament Yoan Moncada, who had not started the last two games after leaving their matchup with Korea after being hit on the hand by a pitch, came in to pinch hit. Moncada delivered on the first pitch. Moncada jumped and raked a single through the left side of the infield, giving Cuba a further lift as they brought the game within a run. A walk to Yadir Mujica loaded the bases, but Shota Suzuki came in out of the bullpen and struck out Jean Harvin Walters to narrowly escape with Japan’s lead still alive.
With the game suddenly much more interesting Cuba turned to their star pitcher Livan Moinelo, but it didn’t seem that it would slow down Japan in any capacity. Moinelo struggled in this role with his command, allowing a walk to the leadoff batter. A single and another hit by pitch for Morishita loaded the bases with one out, and it was once again a dire spot for Cuba. Moinelo walked a runner to score a run, but in a clutch spot got Shugo Maki to roll one over to shortstop for an inning-ending double play. The sweat now wiped from their brow, Cuba never stopped coming at the Japanese bullpen. Santos again triggered a rally, leading off in the seventh inning with a walk, and again Drake followed with a base hit. Despite the struggles of the Cuban offense throughout this tournament the work from Yadir Drake has kept them afloat, as he has been the critical cog for the team throughout. Yoelkis Guibert flew out for the first out, bringing up Despaigne in one of the many big spots he’s hit in throughout his international career with Cuba. Despaigne rolled a swinging bunt over to the left side, Japan’s Tatsuya Shimizu leaving the mound to field the ball, and Shimizu would make a startling mistake. Shimizu bounced the ball to first, skipping it past Maki and into right field where both Santos and Drake would come home to tie the game.
Cuba came to play tonight! ✨ Yadir Drake smacks one through the left side, bringing Roel Santos home for their first run! ⚾ #Premier12 || @Premier12 | @CubanaBeisbol pic.twitter.com/1GrPy4D3hq— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 17, 2024
The game briefly settled, Moinelo locking in to shut down Japan in the seventh and Shimizu putting his error out of his mind to repeat that in the top of the 8th. Moinelo had the top of Japan’s lineup to battle with in the eighth inning, and Cuba would give Japan the tiny gap they needed to wiggle their way back into control. Kaito Kozono hit a grounder up the middle, but an awkward hop ate up the typically reliable Arruebarruena, and Arruebarruena couldn’t recover in time to have a play at first base. Moinelo then had one slip coming up and in to his Ryosuke Tatsumi, and a rally was brewing for Japan with Morishita up in yet another big spot. Yet again Cuba was able to neutralize Morishita, getting him to ground one sharply over to Moncada at third, though the ball was just to Moncada’s left forcing him to slide and not allowing Cuba to turn the double play. Those two spots — a poor hop and a ball just inches too far for Moncada to make the play on his feet — would prove critical for Japan. Ryoya Kurihara cracked a fly ball out to left field, and though Guibert made the play easily he had no shot against the blazing fast pinch runner Ryota Isobata who easily scored the go-ahead run.
Japan are back up! ⚾️ Ryoya Kurihara’s clutch sacrifice fly brings in Ryota Isobata to retake the lead! #Premier12 || @Premier12 | @samuraijapan_pr pic.twitter.com/ySGYXaXBXN— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 17, 2024
Fujihira saves it! Andi Cosme goes down swinging for the final out! ⚾️#Premier12 || @Premier12 | @samuraijapan_pr pic.twitter.com/nnCXRXBWn1— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 17, 2024
Cuba still had their shot though, the middle of the lineup due to hit in the ninth and new pitcher Shoma Fujihira battling pouring rain. Fujihira got a ground out from Guibert to start the inning, but as the rain grew he seemed to only have confidence in locating his fastball, and the veteran Despaigne recognized it early in the count. Despaigne fouled a few pitched off before getting one he liked, rocketing a single up the middle for a one out hit. Ariel Martinez did much the same, sitting on fastball and ripping a single into left field, and suddenly Cuba’s chances grew with the rains. This would continue to spiral when Arruebarruena was hit on the hand by a pitch, bringing up Moncada with the bases loaded in the biggest spot of the tournament for Cuba. Moncada quickly worked ahead, but Fujihira battled brilliant. In a brief respite where the rain let up he was able to get two quick strikes, then expertly painted a 2-2 two-seam fastball front door, catching Moncada looking for the second out. Fujihira got behind Andi Cosme 2-1, but a friendly corner got him a second strike and Cosme was left battling for his life. Cosme fouled one fastball off, but Fujihira fooled him badly, dropping in a nasty changeup that Cosme swung over, a deft strike three to end a nail-biting game for Japan. Japan had sealed their spot at the top of Group B, while Cuba, desperately holding onto hope of advancing, was eliminated.
CHINESE TAIPEI 11 — 3 AUSTRALIA
box score | replay
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PLAYERS OF THE GAMELi Lin, TPE: 5-6, HR, 4 RBIChieh-Hsien Chen, TPE: 1-3, 3 BBChun-Lin Kuo: 3.2 IP, 1 R, 5 K
There was a lot less drama in the second game of the day. While the Cuba-Japan game came down to the wire, the whole time Taiwan was beating Australia soundly and knowing a Japan/Taiwan dual win scenario would end the group a day early, eyes were on Cuba to see if they could pull a miracle. Even with a win, Taiwan’s spot would not have been guaranteed had Cuba won ahead of the two team’s matchup on the final day, but Japan’s win sealed the Group B second seed for Taiwan. Taiwan’s pitching staff was brilliant throughout, and they had their best offensive showing by far led by the five hit contributions of Li Lin.
There was a dash of early hope for Australia. Taiwan had opened up a 2-0 lead, a Chieh-Kai Pan first inning double and Li Lin second inning single giving Taiwan their runs. Both of those rallies came with two outs, and if Australia could just get themselves out of innings and put up a few runs they would have a chance in the game and to stay alive in Group B. Rixon Wingrove led off the second inning with a base hit, quickly followed by a hit from Tim Kennelly, but Chun-Lin Kuo came through masterfully. Kuo struck out the next three hitters, stranding Kennelly and Wingrove in what would be Australia’s chance to get back in the game. Nine-hole hitter Solomon Maguire led off in the third inning with a solo home run, cutting the Australian deficit in half, but it was short-lived respite for Australia.
⚾️ That was a no-doubter. Li Lin puts the game into the books with a three-run home run#Premier12 || @Premier12 | @ctba pic.twitter.com/lQ3djhLiLY— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 17, 2024
Coen Wynne, who was a huge help in Australia’s one-hit shutout of the Dominican Republic, hit the first batter in the top of the third inning. Lewis Thorpe came in to relieve Wynne and scuffled, a hit from Li, a walk to Chieh-Hsien Chen, and then a Song-En Tseng double putting two runs on the board for Taiwan. Thorpe allowed one more hit before finally being rescued, and though Sam Holland would allow a walk to load the bases he got a fly out to end the threat with the game still in reach. Taiwan just kept adding on runs though. An RBI in the fifth inning made it 5-1 in their favor, and then Li Lin put the game all but out of reach. Li was given a 1-0 fastball down the middle, and he demolished it, a no-doubt three-run home run that would the Taiwan lead out to seven runs. Robbie Perkins gave Australia something to sing about with a solo home run in the seventh inning, but for every Australian run Taiwan answered with three. Kungkuan Giljegiljaw hit a three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning, giving Taiwan the first double-digit scoring game of the group and capping off a momentum-building night for the offense.
Schedule for November 18th
Australia (1-3) vs Korea (2-2) — 12:00 PM Local/11:00 PM EST Nov 17th
Venue: Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium - Taipei City, Taipei
How to Watch: DAZN
Japan (4-0) vs Dominican Republic (2-2) — 6:00 PM Local/5:30 PM EST Nov 17th
Venue: Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium - Taipei City, Taipei
How to Watch: DAZN
Cuba (1-3) vs Chinese Taipei (3-1) — 6:30 PM Local/5:30 AM EST
Venue: Taipei Dome - Taipei City, Taipei
How to Watch: DAZN
<img alt="Cuba v Japan: Group B - WBSC Premier12" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VQuJ-TWmNNzfGWjSMCDhy9Bcl4A=/0x0:5478x3652/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73728894/2185238191.0.jpg">
Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images
Japan and Cuba played one down to the wire, but the predictable result came to be and the Super Round schedule is now set The stage is now set for Drake Baldwin and USA baseball, with Group B’s action on Sunday sealing the schedule for the Super Round. Baldwin and the United States will face Japan on November 21st, Chinese Taipei on November 22nd, and then Venezuela on November 23rd. All games will be in the Tokyo Dome, and the United States will advance either to the Gold Medal or Bronze Medal game on the 24th.
As for the games on Sunday, a win from Japan and Chinese Taipei would be the least interesting scenario with regards to final day of play, and that’s what played out. Taiwan dominated Australia, the lone game to feature a former Braves player or prospect. Jon Kennedy, who threw 23 innings of relief to a 2.74 ERA for the 2016 Rome South Atlantic League championship team, pitched 1 2⁄3 innings of scoreless relief for Australia. Kennedy last pitched with the Florida Fire Frogs in 2019. The other game, Cuba vs Japan, was one of the best of the tournament and one of the most exciting games I’ve ever seen. The mighty Samurai Japan took and early lead, but Cuba fought back in an effort to keep their hopes alive in the group and it led to a dramatic conclusion in the later innings.
SCOREBOARD
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Player of the DayLi Lin, Chinese Taipei5-6, HR, 4 RBI
Taiwan’s offense exploded in their win over Australia, and Lin’s contributions were the most critical to those efforts. Lin found himself smack in the middle of each of Taiwan’s major rallies in the game, and he came through each time, racking up five hits in the game. The biggest came in the seventh inning. Taiwan, though they had dominated, had some shaky moments and hadn’t yet had the breakout hit to seal the game. Lin stepped in with two runners on and crushed a home run, putting Taiwan up 8-1 and sealing their spot in the Super Round.
Pitcher of the Day: Chun-Lin Kuo, Chinese Taipei3 2⁄3 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K
Taiwan clinched their spot in the Super Round on Sunday, and it was Kuo’s pitching in the early stages of the game that allowed them to come away with the win. Kuo, save a solo home run, was able to shut down Australia any time they even sniffed an effort at a big inning, most notably in the second inning. Leading 2-0 Kuo gave up hits to the first two batters of the inning, that lead suddenly in jeopardy. Kuo responded by striking out the next three hitters in order, stranding what would come to be Australia’s best chance to get into the game.
CUBA 6 — 7 JAPAN
box score | replay
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PLAYERS OF THE GAMEYadir Drake, CUB: 3-5, 2B, 2 RBIKeita Sano, JPN: 2-3, 2 RBIRoel Santos, CUB: 1-3, 3 R, 2 BB
The night started out as most have for Japan over the past few years, with dominance from the pitching staff and a relentless offense allowing them to open up a commanding early lead. Takahashi Hayakawa was brilliant, facing the minimum through three innings, and this Cuban side who has struggled throughout this tournament seemed to have no answers early. Japan jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning, the as wildness from Cuban starter Raymond Figueredo was problematic for him. He may have set down two Japanese batters on strikes in the inning, but he also hit Shota Morishita and walked Sosuke Genda to bring up Keita Sano with two runners on. Figuerado worked ahead of Sano 0-2, pounding him with his sinking fastball, but Figueredo went to the well one too many times and Sano sat on it and ripped a single into center field to give Japan a 1-0 lead. Figueredo wouldn’t even record an out in the third inning, allowing two hits and a walk to load the bases for the dangerous Morishita. Seeing their chances slip away it was a quick hook for Figueredo, Yusniel Padron now responsible for what could have been a chance for Japan to take command early. Padron got Morishita to fly out to center field, a play that scored a run, but Cuba escaped relatively unscathed from that scoring chance. Geonel Gutierrez came in and struck out the next two batters to strand two, giving Cuba a dash of life to carry the rest of the game.
Samurais strike first! Keita Sano’s clutch RBI drives in Japan’s opening run against Cuba! ⚾️ #Premier12 || @Premier12 | @samuraijapan_pr pic.twitter.com/g5sqfqWRFg— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 17, 2024
Cuba had a much better time sitting on Hayakawa the second time through the lineup, and Roel Santos led off in the top of the fourth inning with a triple that gave Cuba a significant threat. Yadir Drake followed by cutting the lead in half with a single, but Hayakawa’s ability to get timely strikeouts would prove pivotal at this point in the game. Hayakawa recorded seven strikeouts, none more important than the two that immediately followed a walk to Alfredo Despaigne, stranding two Cuban runners and protecting Japan’s lead. Japan would keep adding on. A run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth answered the Cuban rally, and when Gutierrez was pulled Japan was able to add on even more runs in the fifth inning. A Shugo Maki RBI single would extend the lead to 4-1, and Japan threatened more with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Sano blistered a fly ball to center field, but Santos was everywhere, tracking down the fly ball to save multiple runs, though one would come in to score and extend the lead to 5-1.
Cuba came to play tonight! ✨ Yadir Drake smacks one through the left side, bringing Roel Santos home for their first run! ⚾ #Premier12 || @Premier12 | @CubanaBeisbol pic.twitter.com/1GrPy4D3hq— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 17, 2024
Then, things got interesting awfully quickly. Hayakawa had cruised through the fifth inning, but in the sixth the Cuban lineup got a third look at him and they seemed to be making the adjustments they needed. Once again it was the work of Santos — a leadoff walk this time — that started the engine. Yadir Drake smoked a Hayakawa changeup that stayed in the zone, crushing one out to left field the pinged off of the bottom of the wall to score Santos from first base. Hayakawa got one of those strikeouts he needed, but a walk to Despaigne closed the books on Hayakawa’s day. Rikuto Yokoyama got a quick out, but he wasn’t able top stop the bleeding. Erisbel Arruebarruena drove a single into left field to score Drake, cutting the lead for Japan back to two runs. In the biggest spot in the tournament Yoan Moncada, who had not started the last two games after leaving their matchup with Korea after being hit on the hand by a pitch, came in to pinch hit. Moncada delivered on the first pitch. Moncada jumped and raked a single through the left side of the infield, giving Cuba a further lift as they brought the game within a run. A walk to Yadir Mujica loaded the bases, but Shota Suzuki came in out of the bullpen and struck out Jean Harvin Walters to narrowly escape with Japan’s lead still alive.
With the game suddenly much more interesting Cuba turned to their star pitcher Livan Moinelo, but it didn’t seem that it would slow down Japan in any capacity. Moinelo struggled in this role with his command, allowing a walk to the leadoff batter. A single and another hit by pitch for Morishita loaded the bases with one out, and it was once again a dire spot for Cuba. Moinelo walked a runner to score a run, but in a clutch spot got Shugo Maki to roll one over to shortstop for an inning-ending double play. The sweat now wiped from their brow, Cuba never stopped coming at the Japanese bullpen. Santos again triggered a rally, leading off in the seventh inning with a walk, and again Drake followed with a base hit. Despite the struggles of the Cuban offense throughout this tournament the work from Yadir Drake has kept them afloat, as he has been the critical cog for the team throughout. Yoelkis Guibert flew out for the first out, bringing up Despaigne in one of the many big spots he’s hit in throughout his international career with Cuba. Despaigne rolled a swinging bunt over to the left side, Japan’s Tatsuya Shimizu leaving the mound to field the ball, and Shimizu would make a startling mistake. Shimizu bounced the ball to first, skipping it past Maki and into right field where both Santos and Drake would come home to tie the game.
Cuba came to play tonight! ✨ Yadir Drake smacks one through the left side, bringing Roel Santos home for their first run! ⚾ #Premier12 || @Premier12 | @CubanaBeisbol pic.twitter.com/1GrPy4D3hq— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 17, 2024
The game briefly settled, Moinelo locking in to shut down Japan in the seventh and Shimizu putting his error out of his mind to repeat that in the top of the 8th. Moinelo had the top of Japan’s lineup to battle with in the eighth inning, and Cuba would give Japan the tiny gap they needed to wiggle their way back into control. Kaito Kozono hit a grounder up the middle, but an awkward hop ate up the typically reliable Arruebarruena, and Arruebarruena couldn’t recover in time to have a play at first base. Moinelo then had one slip coming up and in to his Ryosuke Tatsumi, and a rally was brewing for Japan with Morishita up in yet another big spot. Yet again Cuba was able to neutralize Morishita, getting him to ground one sharply over to Moncada at third, though the ball was just to Moncada’s left forcing him to slide and not allowing Cuba to turn the double play. Those two spots — a poor hop and a ball just inches too far for Moncada to make the play on his feet — would prove critical for Japan. Ryoya Kurihara cracked a fly ball out to left field, and though Guibert made the play easily he had no shot against the blazing fast pinch runner Ryota Isobata who easily scored the go-ahead run.
Japan are back up! ⚾️ Ryoya Kurihara’s clutch sacrifice fly brings in Ryota Isobata to retake the lead! #Premier12 || @Premier12 | @samuraijapan_pr pic.twitter.com/ySGYXaXBXN— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 17, 2024
Fujihira saves it! Andi Cosme goes down swinging for the final out! ⚾️#Premier12 || @Premier12 | @samuraijapan_pr pic.twitter.com/nnCXRXBWn1— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 17, 2024
Cuba still had their shot though, the middle of the lineup due to hit in the ninth and new pitcher Shoma Fujihira battling pouring rain. Fujihira got a ground out from Guibert to start the inning, but as the rain grew he seemed to only have confidence in locating his fastball, and the veteran Despaigne recognized it early in the count. Despaigne fouled a few pitched off before getting one he liked, rocketing a single up the middle for a one out hit. Ariel Martinez did much the same, sitting on fastball and ripping a single into left field, and suddenly Cuba’s chances grew with the rains. This would continue to spiral when Arruebarruena was hit on the hand by a pitch, bringing up Moncada with the bases loaded in the biggest spot of the tournament for Cuba. Moncada quickly worked ahead, but Fujihira battled brilliant. In a brief respite where the rain let up he was able to get two quick strikes, then expertly painted a 2-2 two-seam fastball front door, catching Moncada looking for the second out. Fujihira got behind Andi Cosme 2-1, but a friendly corner got him a second strike and Cosme was left battling for his life. Cosme fouled one fastball off, but Fujihira fooled him badly, dropping in a nasty changeup that Cosme swung over, a deft strike three to end a nail-biting game for Japan. Japan had sealed their spot at the top of Group B, while Cuba, desperately holding onto hope of advancing, was eliminated.
CHINESE TAIPEI 11 — 3 AUSTRALIA
box score | replay
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PLAYERS OF THE GAMELi Lin, TPE: 5-6, HR, 4 RBIChieh-Hsien Chen, TPE: 1-3, 3 BBChun-Lin Kuo: 3.2 IP, 1 R, 5 K
There was a lot less drama in the second game of the day. While the Cuba-Japan game came down to the wire, the whole time Taiwan was beating Australia soundly and knowing a Japan/Taiwan dual win scenario would end the group a day early, eyes were on Cuba to see if they could pull a miracle. Even with a win, Taiwan’s spot would not have been guaranteed had Cuba won ahead of the two team’s matchup on the final day, but Japan’s win sealed the Group B second seed for Taiwan. Taiwan’s pitching staff was brilliant throughout, and they had their best offensive showing by far led by the five hit contributions of Li Lin.
There was a dash of early hope for Australia. Taiwan had opened up a 2-0 lead, a Chieh-Kai Pan first inning double and Li Lin second inning single giving Taiwan their runs. Both of those rallies came with two outs, and if Australia could just get themselves out of innings and put up a few runs they would have a chance in the game and to stay alive in Group B. Rixon Wingrove led off the second inning with a base hit, quickly followed by a hit from Tim Kennelly, but Chun-Lin Kuo came through masterfully. Kuo struck out the next three hitters, stranding Kennelly and Wingrove in what would be Australia’s chance to get back in the game. Nine-hole hitter Solomon Maguire led off in the third inning with a solo home run, cutting the Australian deficit in half, but it was short-lived respite for Australia.
⚾️ That was a no-doubter. Li Lin puts the game into the books with a three-run home run#Premier12 || @Premier12 | @ctba pic.twitter.com/lQ3djhLiLY— WBSC ⚾ (@WBSC) November 17, 2024
Coen Wynne, who was a huge help in Australia’s one-hit shutout of the Dominican Republic, hit the first batter in the top of the third inning. Lewis Thorpe came in to relieve Wynne and scuffled, a hit from Li, a walk to Chieh-Hsien Chen, and then a Song-En Tseng double putting two runs on the board for Taiwan. Thorpe allowed one more hit before finally being rescued, and though Sam Holland would allow a walk to load the bases he got a fly out to end the threat with the game still in reach. Taiwan just kept adding on runs though. An RBI in the fifth inning made it 5-1 in their favor, and then Li Lin put the game all but out of reach. Li was given a 1-0 fastball down the middle, and he demolished it, a no-doubt three-run home run that would the Taiwan lead out to seven runs. Robbie Perkins gave Australia something to sing about with a solo home run in the seventh inning, but for every Australian run Taiwan answered with three. Kungkuan Giljegiljaw hit a three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning, giving Taiwan the first double-digit scoring game of the group and capping off a momentum-building night for the offense.
Schedule for November 18th
Australia (1-3) vs Korea (2-2) — 12:00 PM Local/11:00 PM EST Nov 17th
Venue: Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium - Taipei City, Taipei
How to Watch: DAZN
Japan (4-0) vs Dominican Republic (2-2) — 6:00 PM Local/5:30 PM EST Nov 17th
Venue: Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium - Taipei City, Taipei
How to Watch: DAZN
Cuba (1-3) vs Chinese Taipei (3-1) — 6:30 PM Local/5:30 AM EST
Venue: Taipei Dome - Taipei City, Taipei
How to Watch: DAZN
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