VII WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup-Day 6: Japan, Dominican Republic advance to Super Round. Afternoon games started

The six games postponed on Friday, 28 July, will conclude the group stage of the VII WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup at the Asia Pacific International Baseball Complex in Tainan, Taiwan.

The Dominican Republic and Japan joined Chinese Taipei, the only undefeated team, and Venezuela in the Super Round. The United States must beat Czechia, and Korea must beat New Zealand to earn their pass.

Day 6 Schedule

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New Zealand @ Korea

Czechia @ USA

Dominican Republic-Panama 7-5

The Dominican Republic hit three home runs in the bottom of the fourth to come from behind and beat Panama in an elimination game for a spot in the Super Round.

Despite losing a runner at home, Panama scored two in the top of the first against Railin Cabrera on a two-out single by third baseman Roger Vasquez and a wild pitch.

The Dominican Republic used some good defence to stay in the game in the second inning.

Designated hitter Anthony Reyes put the Dominican Republic on the board in the bottom of the second. He singled off starter Algis Palacio and scored from first on a double by Yerald Vargas. Panama's first baseman advanced on a wild pitch and became the second out as he tried to score on a grounder to second.

Reyes hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at two.

The Dominicans took control of the game against Palacio and reliever Javier Acevedo. Leadoff hitter Carlos Marrero hit an RBI double to put them ahead. Second baseman Justin Garcia followed with a three-run homer to extend the lead to 6-2.

Right fielder Gustavo Talmare added a two-out solo shot to make it 7-2

Panama cut the deficit in the top of the fifth. Palacio batted in the third run with a sacrifice fly and Vasquez launched a two-run homer to dead center to make it 7-5.

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Japan-Mexico 12-6

Yusuke Koma and Kengo Wada hit two home runs leading slugging Japan to win that is worth a spot in the Super Round.

Catcher Yusuke Koma hit his third home run of the tournament to put Japan ahead, 3-0, in the bottom of the first.

Mexico went to the bullpen, and left-hander Geronimo Perez relieved starter Alfonso Del Valle. A two-out RBI single by left fielder Renji Tachibana made it 4-0.

Mexico got on base on a walk and an error, but Japan's middle infield got starter Sosuke Mizuno out of trouble with a double play.

Koma did it again in the bottom of the second against reliever Geronimo Perez.

First baseman Kengo Wada welcomed Mexico's third pitcher Alan Dominguez hitting another three-run homer on his first offering.

Mexico took advantage of two defensive errors to get on the scoreboard against reliever Teto Suzuki in the top of the fourth, but in the bottom half of the frame Wada homered again to make it 12-2.

Down 12-3, Mexico escaped a bases-loaded threat in the bottom of the fifth, avoiding the run-difference rule.

Esteban Gallardo homered off Mitsui, the third Japanese pitcher, in the top of the six and cut the gap to 12-5.

• On Day 5 Chinese Taipei remains the only undefeated team
• On Day 4: Venezuela dominated Japan, the Dominican Republic outslug the United States.
• The WBSC had a chance to interview Francys Sandoval, the Venezuelan Princess of Baseball.
• On Day 3: Chinese Taipei, Venezuela, USA and Korea stay undefeated.
• On Day 2: Chinese Taipei walked off Japan, and Venezuela's Willy Hernandez threw a no-hitter.
• All Day 1 games were postponed because of bad weather
• The 12 managers previewed the tournament after the Technical Meeting on Thursday, 27 July.
• On 27 July, the City of Tainan introduced the Chinese Taipei National Team to the media.
• Huan Nan Financial Holdings supports the U-12 Baseball World Cup.
• The 12 participants through the history of the tournament.
• Tainan has 400 years of rich history.

More on VII WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup official web page.