Day five at the inaugural Premier12 featured six more games of the first round in Taiwan. Canada and Japan improved to 3-0 in two hard-fought games as the lone undefeated teams remaining in the tournament. Canada downed host Chinese Taipei 9-8 in a thriller, which included several lead changes, game-tying home runs and a crucial assisted fly out in center field to end a rally in the eighth. Japan meanwhile saw a 2-0 lead vanish within one swing, but still was able to prevail 4-2 over the still winless Dominican Republic in a meeting of World Baseball Classic champions.
In Pool A Puerto Rico and Cuba also squared off in a close game, which saw extra innings for the first time in the event. Puerto Rico erased a five-run deficit in the ninth, before Cuba still got an 8-7 win in the tenth when the fielder got pulled off the bag at first base during a double play attempt. The other Pool A matchup saw the Netherlands crush Italy 16-1 in seven innings thanks to the heroics of Randolph Oduber and Curt Smith, who combined for nine hits. It was a demonstration by the Dutch, which also took advantage of some early defensive miscues by Italy. Smith, Kalian Sams and Dashenko Ricardo hit home runs.
In Pool B South Korea had provided the first mercy rule shortened win of the tournament, when they beat Venezuela 13-2. They now have scored 23 runs within a span of nine innings in the last two games. Jae Gyun Hwang hit a pair of home runs. Also Team USA ended their game earlier as scheduled, as they defeated Mexico 10-0 in eight innings. Matt McBride led the way, going 5-for-5 and three RBI. The United States and South Korea improved to 2-1 for the tournament, while Mexico and Venezuela dropped to 1-2 each.
The Premier12 continues on Saturday after an official rest day on Friday. The game day will be highlighted by a couple of new chapters in longtime rivalries. In the afternoon the Dominican Republic faces Venezuela in Taoyuan. In the evening, also in Taoyuan, Japan clashes with Team USA in a meeting between number one and two in the world. In Taichung Cuba takes on Chinese Taipei in a crucial matchup for the host. Additionally Italy faces Canada in Dou-Liou, the Netherlands square off against Puerto Rico in the afternoon in Taichung and South Korea plays against Mexico in Taipei City.
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Schedule, Results and Recaps of Premier 12:
Sunday, November 8, 2015:
Japan – South Korea 5-0 Recap
Monday, November 9, 2015:
Chinese Taipei – Netherlands 4-7 Recap
Tuesday, November 10, 2015:
Venezuela – Mexico 4-6 Recap
Puerto Rico – Italy 7-1 Recap
USA – Dominican Republic 11-5 Recap
Cuba – Canada 1-5 Recap
Wednesday, November 11, 2015:
USA – Venezuela 5-7 Recap
Netherlands – Cuba 5-6 Recap
Dominican Republic – South Korea 1-10 Recap
Japan – Mexico 6-5 Recap
Canada – Puerto Rico 2-0 Recap
Italy – Chinese Taipei 1-7 Recap
Thursday, November 12, 2015:
South Korea – Venezuela 13-2 (7) Recap
Cuba – Puerto Rico 8-7 (10) Recap
Mexico – USA 0-10 (8) Recap
Dominican Republic – Japan 2-4 Recap
Italy – Netherlands 1-16 (7) Recap
Chinese Taipei – Canada 8-9 Recap
Saturday, November 14, 2015:
12:05 Venezuela – Dominican Republic
12:35 Netherlands – Puerto Rico
18:00 Mexico – South Korea
18:08 USA – Japan
18:35 Canada – Italy
18:35 Chinese Taipei – Cuba
Sunday, November 15, 2015:
12:05 Dominican Republic – Mexico
12:35 Puerto Rico – Chinese Taipei
18:00 South Korea – USA
18:08 Japan – Venezuela
18:35 Cuba – Italy
18:35 Netherlands – Canada
Standings:
Pool A
1) Canada 3-0
2) Cuba 2-1
3) Netherlands 2-1
4) Puerto Rico 1-2
4) Chinese Taipei 1-2
6) Italy 0-3
Pool B
1) Japan 3-0
2) USA 2-1
2) South Korea 2-1
4) Mexico 1-2
5) Venezuela 1-2
6) Dominican Republic 0-3
Photo by Ezio Ratti, FIBS