Premier 12: Day four with more surprises

On day four, the first full day with a complete program, we could experience a few surprises again.

Group A

  Puerto Rico  0 – 2  Canada  

Both teams had won their first game on the previous day. Canada vs Cuba and Puerto Rico vs Italy. In this game both would be each other’s match but Canada remained at the right side of the score.
For six innings both teams didn’t score but a two run seventh was enough for the Canucks to clinch their second victory of the tournament. Peter Orr led off that inning with a single to right field before Tyler O’Neill homered and took Orr with him.
Despite a good outing in five innings, Canadian starter Scott Diamond didn’t earn the win. Canadian reliever Phillippe Aumont did after 2.2 innings of relief in which he gave up one hit, walked three and struck out two.
With eight and a half scoreless innings, it may be clear that next to the runs that did not come cheap, the hits didn’t get either: four for Puerto Rico, three for Canada.

  Chinese Taipei  7  –  1  Italy 

After both teams lost their first game, this game was a must win for both. But Italy proved to be no match for the Taiwanese as they lost with the same numbers as they did vs Puerto Rico.
Italian starting pitcher Luca Panerati was pulled after 3.2 innings as he had given up four runs on six hits. Panerati walked three, struck out three and threw two wild pitches.
That four run deficit was too much to overcome for the Italians as they managed to get on the board in the fifth as Alex Sambucci homered to left center field.
Chun-Lin Kuo earned the win for Chinese Taipei as he cruised through seven innings in which he gave up one run on two hits and struck out ten.
The Italians were clearly outhit 11-3.

Group B

  Venezuela  7  –  5  USA  

A surprising win for Venezuela that fell to a rather unprepared Mexican team yesterday. It was one of those games in which the score went back and forth. The USA took a 1-0 lead in the first, extended their lead to 2-0 in the third and Venezuela tied it in the fourth.
A double hit by Luis Jimenez and a throwing error by relief pitcher John Church as Jimenez stole third, led to three runs for the South Americans. But a double by Bret Eibner in the bottom of the fifth, tied the game once again. Eventually Venezuela clinched the win as they scored two in the seventh.
Yorman Bazardo earned the win as he pitched four innings in relief, after he replaced starter Phelipe del Paulino, who was pulled after facing just three hitters and a rain delay. John Church took the loss as he gave up three runs in two innings.
Luis Jimenez went 3 for 5 with five runs batted in for Venezuela.

  South Korea  10  –  1  Dominican Republic  

Despite the fact that the Dominican Republic took the lead in this game, Korea walked away with the win.
For four innings, both teams did not score but the Dominicans opened the score in the bottom of the fifth as Wilkin Ramirez scored from second on Pedro Feliz’ single through the middle of the infield.
The Koreans didn’t have an immediate answer but eventuallyu scored in the seventh, in the eighth and in the ninth to clinch a 10-1 victory.
Despite giving up the sole run to the Dominicans, pitcher Won-Jun Chang earned the win after seven innings of work. He gave up four hits, walked one and fanned seven. Fukuoka Softbank Hawks star Dae-Ho Lee went 2 for 4 with three RBI, a run scored and a homerun.

  Mexico  5  –  6  Japan  

After a surprising win against Venezuela, the Mexicans fell to Japan in a close game.
Mexico took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but Japan bounced back immediately by scoring two. In the next inning the Asians scored two more. Mexico tied the game in the top of the ninth but Japan pushed a final time in the bottom to score the game wining run. Yamada led off the ninth with a double to right field, eventually followed by Nakata’s single to right center field to drive in Yamada for the winning run.
Pitcher Hirokazu Sawamura pitched the ninth. Despite the one run that he surrendered, he earned the win. Alexander Caldera took the loss. He managed to get one out in the ninth, but gave up the winning run on two hits. He gave up an intentional walk. Best hitter for Japan was Nakata, who went 3 for 3 with five runs batted in.