The second round and the consolation round at the inaugural 21U Baseball World Cup in Taichung, Taiwan started on Thursday. Japan and Chinese Taipei remain undefeated and appear to be on track for the Gold Medal Game on Sunday.
Japan shut out the Czech Republic 15-0 in the afternoon. They needed just five innings to cruise to an easy win. Seven runs in the third and six in the fourth blew the score wide open. Michal Sobotka and Matej Brabec were no match for the strong Japanese offense. Masaru Nakamura and Kentaro Taira kept the Czech team to one hit in five innings. Kensuke Kondo hit a home run.
Chinese Taipei matched Team Nippon’s perfect record with a 9-3 victory over Australia. The host took a quick 4-0 lead after three frames and answered a three-run top of the eighth with four runs in the bottom half. Chia Hao Sung conceded two hits and a walk in seven scoreless innings. Chih Chieh Su, Po Jung Wang and Chieh Hsien Chen combined for eight RBI. Sam Gibbons got charged with the loss.
In the second evening matchup Korea downed Nicaragua 9-2. A two-run sixth broke a 2-2 tie. Five more runs in the seventh and ninth turned a close game into a rout. Dohyun Kim went 4-for-5 with a run and three RBI. Jawook Koo collected two hits, two runs and two RBI.
In the consolation round two games were on the schedule on Thursday. The Netherlands celebrated their first win of the tournament with a 7-2 victory over Mexico. Tom de Blok and three relievers laid the groundwork on the mound. Four runs in the bottom of the seventh provided much-needed insurance. Cezan Rafaela doubled and drove in three. Kirvin Moesquit scored twice.
Venezuela scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth to rally for a 9-8 win against New Zealand. A walk-off RBI single by Jose Caguana capped the big comeback. Jhoyner Andres Perez and Frank Jose Tineo had five of the nine RBI for Venezuela. Boss Moanaroa hit a home run and drove in four for the Kiwis. Miguel Caigua picked up the win. MacKenzie Quarterman took the loss.