The WBSC U18 Baseball World Cup continued on Monday with six games. The two European representatives Netherlands and Italy had the favored teams from Japan and Canada on the verge of an upset.
The Dutch team was leading Japan 1-0 after five innings thanks to a run by Richgelon Natanael Juliana. A wild top of the sixth in defense handed Japan two runs and ended Netherlands’ hopes for a surprise win. Donny Breek collected seven strikeouts in seven innings, allowing just four hits, two runs (1 ER) and a walk. A comeback in the end was denied by Japan’s Fumimaru Taura, who struck out nine in four scoreless no-hit, one-walk innings of relief.
Italy meanwhile had host Canada on the brink of a defeat. Two runs each in the fourth and the fifth got the Squadra Azzurri ahead 5-2. But the Canadians fought back, tied the game in the eighth and won it in the ninth. Leonardo Seminati hit a solo home run. Ricardo Paolino doubled twice and drove in two.
In other games on Monday Australia defeated Chinese Taipei 4-0. The United States survived a scare in a 5-0 win over South Africa. Cuba beat Mexico 5-1. And Korea prevailed 12-4 over Nicaragua aided by nine runs in the first two innings, four on an inside the park grand slam home run.
Results:
