The Bahamas U-15 baseball team overcame a five-run deficit to beat Cuba 11-8 on Friday night and maintain their undefeated record in the II Caribbean Cup of this category, which has been taking place since December 4 at the Andre Rodgers Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas. Box score  | Play-by-Play Cuba jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning against right-hander Liam Eneas, in an inning where the team got five hits, including one by Jose Muniz that drove in the first two runs. The inning saw another RBI single by Antonio Nolazco that made it 3-0 and a third hit by Yoan Acosta that added two more runs, giving Cuban starter Jorge Tur a comfortable margin for victory. However, after a comfortable first inning, Tur began to falter in the bottom of the second inning, complicated by an error of his own that left runners on the corners with no outs. After a steal and a strikeout, Tur loaded the bases with a walk to right fielder and seventh in the batting order, Khayle Watkins, only for the defense to fail again with a grounder by Javan Smith to second base, which allowed two more runs to come in. One batter later, Bahamas cut the difference to 5-3, when Jordan Archer hit a double to left that drove in the third run of the inning. The inning could have been longer after a hit by pitch that again brought a runner into scoring position, but Tur ended the threat by forcing Malique Israel to hit into a double play. However, the decisive moment came just one inning later. In the bottom of the third inning, the Bahamas scored an impressive eight runs, fueled by nine hits against the Cuban starter and the first reliever, Joseph Arias, who endured seven of those hits from the Bahamian offense. During this inning, the home team sent 14 batters to the plate and, along with the nine hits, earned two walks. The Cubans attempted a comeback, scoring a run in the fourth inning off Eneas, with Muñiz contributing his second hit of the game. Muñiz also drove in Cuba's final two runs in the sixth inning against the first reliever, right-hander Malik Williams, with a hit to left field. This solidified the performance of the Cuban catcher, who was undoubtedly the island's top hitter of the night, going 3-for-4 with 5 RBIs. Despite Cuba's third reliever, right-hander Javier Roque, holding the Bahamas scoreless and allowing just one hit over 2 1/3 innings, the Cuban offense was insufficient to overturn the score. The team was clearly impacted by the four unearned runs given up by the Cuban starter. With their win, the Bahamas (3-0) emerged as the sole undefeated team in the tournament, clinching first place in the qualifying stage. This Saturday, the Bahamians will compete against fourth-place St. Marteen (0-3), who suffered a 17-7 defeat to the US Virgin Islands earlier in the day, in the second semifinal match scheduled for 7:00 pm (local time). Saturday starting at 2:00 pm, second-place Cuba (2-1) will face third-place US Virgin Islands (1-2), in the first match of the tournament semifinals. The following day will be a standard rest day, with the tournament medals being decided on Monday, December 9. At the same times, the bronze medal (2:00 pm) and gold medal (7:00 pm) matches will take place, featuring the losers and winners from this Saturday, respectively. II Caribbean Cup U-15 Cuba results Wednesday, Dec 5 : Cuba 12, US Virgin Islands 0 (5) Box score  | Play-by-Play Thursday, Dec 6 : Cuba 13, St. Marteen 1 (5) Box score  | Play-by-Play Friday, Dec 7 : Bahamas 11, Cuba 8 Box score  | Play-by-Play Standings Bahamas 3-0 (1.000) - RS 55, RA 9 Cuba 2-1 (1.000) - RS 33, RA 12 US Virgin Islands 1-2 (.000) - RS 18, RA 30 Sint Marteen 0-2 (.000) - RS 8, RA 63

Similar to their performance on the opening day, Cuba (2-0) comfortably defeated Sint Maarten (0-2) with a score of 13-1 in four and a half innings, marking their second win in as many games in the II Caribbean Cup Under-15, which began yesterday at the Andre Rodgers Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas. Box score | Play-by-Play In the second match of the day, the Bahamas (1-0) will face the US Virgin Islands (0-1) during the qualification round, which ends this Friday and will establish the positions for Saturday's cross-over semifinal. This time, Cuba utilized the combined pitching efforts of left-handed starter José L. Arias and right-handers Joseph Arias and Lekian Acosta to restrict Sint Maarten to two hits and their first run of the tournament over five innings. José Luis started the game for Cuba, and after they secured a 6-0 lead in the third inning, he was replaced by reliever Joseph Arias. The Cuban manager is now evaluating potential scenarios with the revised schedule due to the Dominican Republic's exit from the tournament, considering the possibility of needing the Cuban starter in future games. José Luis delivered another impressive performance for the Criollitos, pitching 2 1/3 innings with 34 pitches, 18 of which were strikes. He didn't allow a hit, issued one walk, and recorded five strikeouts. He was quickly backed up by an offense that placed four runs in the first inning and another two in the second, all against Sint Marteen's right-handed starter, Rigadon Raap, and his first reliever, Jaytan Cordilla. In the first inning, with two outs, Cristian Aguilera walked, stole second, and José Muñíz hit an RBI single to give Cuba the initial lead. Soon after, another steal, a walk, a wild pitch, and Antonio Nolazco's double down the left field line extended the lead to 3-0. Nolazco later scored the inning's fourth run after advancing to second on Sint Maarten's starter's second wild pitch and José Jiménez's RBI single to right. In the following inning, the score increased to 6-0 against the first reliever, Cordilla, due to a walk, an RBI triple to left by Damián de Jesús Díaz, and another wild pitch by the reliever. Sint Maarten had their first chance to score in the top of the third inning when the Cuban starting pitcher walked the seventh batter, Jahmai Pérez. After striking out the subsequent batter, Jaynard Hodge, the Cuban manager decided to remove him from the game. In this scenario, reliever Joseph Arias managed to escape the inning, but not before putting a runner in scoring position by walking the leadoff hitter, Jaytan Cordilla. He ended the inning by getting Rigadon Raap to fly out to right field. Cuba capitalized on the bottom of the inning to put the game nearly out of reach for Sint Marteen. During this inning, Sint Maarten's pitching faltered, issuing five walks, four of them consecutively at the beginning of the inning, which led to a 7-0 score. A single by Nolazco, combined with a throwing error by the shortstop to first, extended the lead to 9-0. The inning's final two runs came from a double by Yohan Acosta, which drove in one, and a grounder to shortstop by Rafael Tarín, bringing in the second. In the fourth inning Sint Marteen would pose his greatest threat so far in the game, when the first Cuban reliever faced problems with his control and gave away two walks that, combined with Sint Marteen's first hit in the game, this one by the fourth hitter Yaedon Martie to center, loaded the bases with just one out. However, Arias kept his cool and finished with strikeouts on Pérez and pinch hitter Jorvy Castillo, to keep the score the same. After Cuba extended its lead to 13-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Sint Maarten finally got on the scoreboard in their last offensive opportunity during the fifth inning against Cuba's new reliever, right-hander Lekian Acosta. In that inning, Cordilla walked, stole a base, and Rigadon Raap singled through shortstop, putting runners on the corners. Martie then grounded out to third, allowing Cordilla to score and setting the final score at 13-1. Acosta issued another walk in the inning before getting Malik Hyman to ground out to third for the game's final out. Cuba is now 2-0, and it is almost certain that an undefeated matchup will occur this Friday night when they face the host team, the Bahamas. The Bahamas still have to face the US Virgin Islands in tonight's game, but they demonstrated superiority over Sint Maarten on Wednesday and are favored against their current opponents. II Caribbean Cup U-15 Cuba' Results Wednesday, Dec 5 : Cuba 12, US Virgin Islands (5) Box score | Play-by-Play Thursday, Dec 6 : Cuba 13, St. Marteen 1 (5) Box score | Play-by-Play Standings Cuba 2-0 (1.000) - RS 25, RA 1 Bahamas 1-0 (1.000) - RS 33, RA 0 US Virgin Islands 0-1 (.000) - RS 0, RA 12 Sint Marteen 0-2 (.000) - RS 1, RA46

The confirmed absence of the Dominican Republic team from the II Caribbean Cup U-15 baseball in Nassau, Bahamas, was announced on Thursday. During an extraordinary COPABE meeting this morning, the schedule was adjusted to prevent holding two qualifying rounds, ensuring the tournament concludes on the originally planned date of December 9. For this reason, the updated schedule features the following games: December 5 2 pm, Cuba vs. Sint Maarten 7 pm, Bahamas vs. US Virgin Islands December 6 2 pm, Sint Maarten vs. US Virgin Islands 7 pm, Cuba vs. Bahamas December 7 Semifinals 4 vs. 1 and 3 vs. 2 December 8 Day of rest December 9 2 pm, Bronze Game (Among the losers of December 7) 7 pm, Gold Game (Among the winners of December 7) The tournament commenced this Wednesday, even though the Dominican Republic was absent due to issues with their players' airline tickets. Cuba achieved a 12-0 victory over the US Virgin Islands, and the Bahamas defeated Sint Maarten 33-0. The inaugural U-15 Caribbean Baseball Cup took place in 2022 in Santo Domingo, where the host team, the Dominican Republic, emerged victorious.

Because of a required change in the tournament schedule, as the Dominican Republic delegation was late for the tournament's start, Cuba played against the United States Virgin Islands this Wednesday in the opening match of the U-15 Caribbean Cup. This event started today and will continue until December 9 at the Andre Rodgers Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas. Box score | Play-by-Play Following the opening ceremony at 7:00 pm, the Bahamas and Sint Maarten are set to compete at 7:30 pm in the day's second match. Cuba is scheduled to play against Sint Maarten this Thursday, with the game taking place at 2:00 pm local time. In a game that was unexpectedly concluded by the umpires' decision after four and a third innings, where it appeared the Virgin Islands team fielded an ineligible player, the Cubans' debut couldn't have been simpler, securing a 12-0 win. The win was underscored by the flawless performance of left-handed starter Carlos Sarduy, combined with the Virgin Islands' weak defense and Cuba's timely offense in the third and fourth innings of the match. The Cubans showcased an outstanding performance by Sarduy, who pitched four innings, delivering 49 pitches and allowing just one hit while striking out eight batters without issuing any walks. Sarduy, highlighted by Cuban manager Walmer Urrutia as one of the island's most promising prospects, impressed the small crowd at the stadium, including scouts, by facing the minimum number of batters. He consistently started with strikes against seven of the 12 batters in a commanding performance, heavily relying on his curveball to bewilder his opponents. Cuba's offensive breakthrough occurred after two unsuccessful chances with a runner in scoring position during the first two innings against left-handed starter Anerai Mason. In the third inning, the Cubans strung together three hits, two walks, and capitalized on three errors to score six runs, which proved sufficient for victory. In the following inning, the Cubans increased their lead by scoring five more runs. They achieved this by combining a walk, an error, and three hits against the Virgin Islands' first reliever, right-hander Ricardo Garcia. Cuba's final run occurred in the top of the fifth inning against the Virgin Islands' third relief pitcher, left-hander D'Yomjae Aubain. This run resulted from a single, a walk, and another defensive error, all shortly before the umpires called the game with only one out in the inning. This Thursday, COPABE will reveal the revised tournament schedule following adjustments for the anticipated arrival of the Dominican Republic. Should the Caribbean team fail to arrive, the tournament will proceed with two rounds, culminating in a final between the top two teams.

The second edition of the U-15 Caribbean Baseball Cup, organized by the Caribbean Baseball Confederation (COCABE) and the Bahamas Baseball Association, is scheduled to take place in Nassau, Bahamas from December 4-9. The Andre Rodgers National Baseball Stadium in Nassau will be the venue for this tournament, featuring teams from Cuba—who have finally confirmed their participation and are already in the host country after initially facing participation issues—Dominican Republic, United States Virgin Islands, Sint Maarten, and the host country, Bahamas. This tournament undoubtedly offers a platform for many talents in this category to compete at a high level and gain international exposure, especially with the expected presence of several scouts from various MLB organizations. The timetable features a round-robin stage from December 4 to 8, with two games daily. The top two teams will vie for the championship, while the teams in third and fourth place will face off in the bronze medal match. Although the schedule shows the official opening at 6:00 pm today, local time, just thirty minutes before the match between the home team and Sint Maarten, the Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic teams will play the tournament's first game at two in the afternoon. Cuba will not play on this initial date. The Cubans' schedule will start on Thursday at 2:00 pm, when they will compete against the Virgin Islands. For this match, left-hander Carlos Sarduy is confirmed as the starting pitcher. Starting from that moment, the schedule features games against the Dominican Republic on Friday at 6:00 pm, against Sint Maarten on Saturday at 2:00 pm, and concludes on Sunday, December 8 against the Bahamas at 6:00 pm. The Cuban team comes with the goal of winning the title, as stated by its manager Walmer Urrutia to sports commentator Evyan Guerra, vice president of the COPABE press commission. Similar to other categories, the Cubans have experienced a decline in their level, largely due to the ongoing migration of players, including those at very young ages. An instance of this is seen in the U-15 category, where after securing the runner-up position in the 2022 world championship—losing 4-3 in the final against the United States—the team did not qualify for the 2024 world edition, finishing seventh in the Pan American qualifier last March. The first edition of the U-15 Caribbean Cup was held in 2022 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, with the presence of the teams from Haiti, the US Virgin Islands and the home team. Precisely the Dominican Republic took the title, after two round-robin rounds in which it finished undefeated (4-0) against its rivals. In summary, the Cuban team's roster was assembled last Monday, with a focus on the strength of its pitching, as Urrutia himself noted. TEAM CUBA TO THE U-15 CARIBBEAN CUP P itchers (5) : Lekian Acosta, Jorge M. Tur, Carlos G. Sarduy, José A. Arias and Joseph L. Arias Catchers (2) : Yoán M. Acosta and José Y. Muñíz Infielders (6) : Javier R. Roque, Cristian M. González, Miguel A. Chirino, Antonio A. Nolazco, Hanley M. Hernández and Damián de Jesús Díaz Outfielders (5) : Lexter J. Castillo, Marcos del Toro, Cristian A. Aguilera, José A. Jiménez and Rafael A. Tarín

The World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) has published the newest update to the WBSC/KONAMI Men’s Baseball World Rankings. This update follows the end of the WBSC Premier12 2024 global tournament, sponsored by RAXUS, which wrapped up last weekend in Tokyo with an impressive finale, as Chinese Taipei defeated Japan 4-0 in the final match. Chinese Taipei, ranked World No. 2, solidified its exclusive hold on the second spot, previously shared with Mexico at 4,118 points, and narrowed the distance to No. 1 Japan. Meanwhile, Venezuela reached No. 3 and Panama climbed to No. 8, marking their highest historical rankings. A total of 84 countries are listed in the latest WBSC/KONAMI Men’s Baseball World Rankings, just shy of the record 85 countries in 2021. This includes newcomers No. 57 Saint Maarten and No. 80 Cambodia, as well as the return of No. 70 Indonesia and No. 77 Malaysia, who rejoin the rankings after a decade. In the East Asia Cup, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Cambodia secured fifth, sixth, and seventh places respectively, while Saint Maarten achieved fourth place in the VI Caribbean Baseball Cup 2024. Announcing a new format and an expanded roster of 16 teams for the IV WBSC Premier12, including two qualifiers in 2026 and participation from the world's top 20 teams, this ranking release signifies the beginning of the journey towards the upcoming Global Baseball Battle. The top 12 teams in the WBSC/Konami Men's Baseball World Rankings at the conclusion of 2025 will earn direct qualification for the 2027 Group Stage. Meanwhile, teams ranked 13th to 18th, along with two Wild Cards, will compete in the Premier12 Qualifiers to decide the remaining four participants in the Group Stage. Cuba, following a lackluster performance in Group B of the 2024 tournament, where it ended up at the bottom of the group with a 1-4 record, also secured 11th place overall in the tournament, marking its worst historical position, and as a result, fell two spots in the world rankings. The drop marks the worst position (10th) for the island's roster since the incorporation of the rankings system into the WBSC calendar on December 31, 2012, when Cuba made its debut in first place. The new ranking position equals Cuba's own 10th place on August 11, 2021. The race to end 2025 within the top 12 will become more competitive as automatic qualification for the Premier12 is in progress. The Dominican Republic, ranked 11th, and Australia, ranked 12th, have re-entered the top 12, climbing one and three positions, respectively. Colombia, in 13th place, is only 35 points shy of securing an automatic spot, whereas Italy, in 14th place, trails Australia by 262 points, and the Czech Republic is 446 points behind the 12th position. With five teams divided by only 78 points, the competition for 20th place will be intense over the coming year, deciding which teams will move on to the two qualifiers in 2026. At present, China holds the 20th spot with 900 points, closely trailed by France at 21st with 888 points, Canada at 22nd with 856 points, Brazil at 23rd with 830 points, and Spain at 24th with 822 points. In 2025, two WBSC tournaments, the U12 and U18 World Cups, are planned. Additionally, events like the Caribbean Cup and the newly announced Copa America, featuring the top 12 teams from the Americas, will also influence the world rankings.

TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan - Defending champion Japan secured its spot in the four-team Super Round of the WBSC Premier12 presented by RAXUS at Taipei City’s Tianmu Stadium on Sunday night with a hard-fought 7-6 victory over Cuba. The win, at a rain-soaked Tianmu Stadium, improved Japan’s record in Group B qualifying round to 4-0 and eliminated Cuba (1-3) from any chance of advancing with one match remaining in the group stage for both teams. Box score The Cubans were trailing 5-1 in the sixth inning, but they rallied to even the score at six in the following inning. In the ninth inning, they had a chance to win the game when they loaded the bases against closer Shoma Fujihira with only one out. However, Fujihira ended the Cuban effort by striking out Yoán Moncada and Andy Cosme. It was one of those games that you won't forget. It was perhaps the rain that made it closer or it was the teams, who fought like we hadn't seen in a long time to give a good show to the fans present at Tianmu. Regarding the rain and its impact on the game, Japan's coach, Hirokazu Ibata, avoided giving credit to it regarding how hard the game was for his team. "The playing conditions were the same for both teams," he said through an interpreter. "The rain doesn't change anything. With or without rain, we still want our players to go out on the field and play hard." That's exactly what the defending champions accomplished. Facing the inexperienced Cuban right-hander Raymond Figueredo, Japan gained a narrow lead in the bottom of the second inning, with Keita Sano hitting a single that allowed Shota Morishita to score from third. In the third inning, Japan increased their lead. Masayuki Kuwahara started the inning with a single, followed by Kaito Kuzono's single to right field. Figueredo walked Ryosuke Tatsumi, loading the bases, prompting Cuba to turn to their bullpen. They called in right-hander Yusniel Padrón to face cleanup hitter Shota Morishita. However, Padrón couldn't stop another run as Morishita's pop-out to center field made it 2-0. The situation for Cuba could have been more dire, but left-hander Geonel Gutiérrez managed consecutive strikeouts against left-handed Ryoya Kurihara and right-handed Shugo Maki, minimizing the damage. Cuba's first hit against left-handed starter Takahisa Hayakawa occurred in the third inning, courtesy of Roberto Baldoquín who led off the inning. However, Hayakawa swiftly struck out Andrys Pérez and induced Jean H. Walters to ground into a double play. In the next inning, Cuba narrowed the gap. Roel Santos began the inning by hitting a triple off the center field wall on the third pitch he faced and scored shortly after when Yadir Drake singled to left. A walk to Alfredo Despaigne advanced Drake to second base with the potential tying run, but Hayakawa struck out Ariel Martínez and Erisbel Arruebarrena to end the inning. Two singles and a sacrifice fly to left by Toshiya Sato gave Japan a two-run lead again, thanks to shortstop Susuke Genda's speed in the bottom of the fourth. Japan extended their lead in the fifth inning when Ryosuke Tatsumi reached base with an infield hit, forcing reliever Geonel Gutiérrez out of the game. Although right-hander Frank L. Medina got Morishita to ground out and intentionally walked Kurihara, he couldn't stop first baseman Shugo Maki's single, which made the score 4-1. Young left-hander Darío Sarduy came in to relieve him, but walked Genda, and despite getting designated hitter Keita Sano to fly out to center with excellent fielding by Roel Santos, he couldn't stop Japan from scoring their fifth run. It seemed that the game was going smoothly for Japan, but the best was yet to come. In the sixth inning, Cuba initiated a comeback by scoring three runs. Santos walked to lead off the inning, and Drake drove in his fifth run of the tournament with a double to left. Hayakawa struck out the struggling Yoelkis Guibert but then walked Alfredo Despaigne, leading to his swift replacement by Rikuto Yokohama. Nonetheless, shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena, who had been one of Cuba's less productive players in the tournament, responded by hitting a single to left-center, altering the score to 5-3. Yoán Moncada was then brought in as a pinch hitter and hit a single to right field on the first pitch he saw, narrowing the game to 5-4 and leaving Arruebarrena at second base with the potential tying run. Yokoyama issued a walk to Yadil Mujica, loading the bases, prompting Japan's manager to bring in left-hander Shota Suzuki to face the young Jean H. Walters, and halted the Cuban rally with a strikeout. This was one of two instances where Cuba left the bases loaded during the game. When questioned about the primary reason for the loss, the Cuban manager refrained from pinpointing a specific cause, stating, "I don't believe it was any particular play. However, it's true that we missed preventing a few runs due to a lack of precision at certain moments in the game, but I don't want to specify anything. You watched the game." In the bottom of the sixth inning, Japan regained a two-run lead when the Cuban manager brought in Liván Moinelo as a relief pitcher, as he had promised after the victory against Australia in the event of a close game. However, Moinelo, who had been dealing with a stomach issue all week—despite the Cuban manager's claims that Moinelo had the flu—did not display his usual command. He walked Masayuki Kuwahara and allowed a single to Kaito Kosono. A fly ball to center advanced Kuwahara to third, but Moinelo then loaded the bases hitting Shota Morishita and walking Ryoya Kurihara, giving Japan a 6-4 lead. In the seventh inning, Cuba managed to secure a thrilling tie. Santos and Drake got on base at the start of the inning with a walk and a single, respectively. After Guibert's out — was 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in the game — right-hander Tatsuya Shimizu was brought in to pitch against Despaigne. Despite Shimizu inducing weak contact from Despaigne, he made a throwing error to first base, allowing both runners to score to tie the game. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Japan secured their victory against Moinelo, who was putting in a significant effort. Arruebarrena's fielding error allowed Kosono to reach first base, with Ryota Isobata coming in as a pinch runner. Moinelo then hit Ryosuke Tatsume, adding to the complications. Morishita's groundout advanced Isobata to third base, and he scored shortly after on Kurihara's sacrifice fly to left field. "I was really afraid the ball was foul," Kurihara said at the postgame press conference. "I relaxed when I saw the ball was in good territory and I saw Isobata score the go-ahead run from third. It was a very intense game and we fought hard for the win. I'm excited to have driven in the decisive run." To add to the excitement at the end, Cuba loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning against closer Shoma Fujihira. With one out, Despaigne and Ariel Martínez singled, Arruebarrena was hit by a pitch that loaded the bases, but Fujihira showed his class, striking out Moncada and Andy Cosme. The loss eliminated Cuba from any opportunity to progress to the Super Round, with Japan and Chinese Taipei - who beat Australia 11-3 - advancing as the first and second teams, respectively, in Group B. On Monday, Japan has the opportunity to remain unbeaten as it takes on the Dominican Republic at Tianmu Stadium. Meanwhile, Cuba will play against Chinese Taipei at the Taipei Dome at 6:30 p.m. (local time), 5:30 a.m. in Cuba and the Eastern US. CUBA - JAPAN - Highlights

TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan - In front of a crowd of 30,924, Chinese Taipei put recent international losses to Cuba behind them to win by shutout 2-0 in Group B of the WBSC Premier12 presented by RAXUS at the Taipei Dome in Taipei City on Monday night. The victory left Chinese Taipei with a 4-1 record in Group B, preceded only by a team Japan that left no doubts about its favoritism, by disposing of the Dominican Republic 11-3 at Tianmu Stadium and with a 5-0 record, it is the only undefeated team of the four that advanced to the Super Round, to be played between November 21 and 23 at the Tokyo Dome in Bunkyo City in Tokyo. Box score With a 1-4 record, Cuba is tied with Australia and the Dominican Republic, but due to the tiebreaker coefficient, the Cubans ended up last in Group B. The Premier12 editions represent the worst international performance in the history of Cuba's team, with an overall record of 5-9 across all tournaments and a sixth-place finish in 2015 as their best result. In the day's other match, South Korea beat Australia 5-2, securing third place with a 3-2 record. This was a disappointing showing for the 2015 champions and 2019 finalists. Nonetheless, Korean coach Joong-Il-Ryu, who apologized to the Korean fans who traveled to Taipei to support the team, views the outcome as part of the team's renewal process. This renewal aims to restore their elite status for the 2026 World Classic and the 2028 Olympic tournament in Los Angeles. The game On this occasion, Cuban manager Armando Johnson selected left-hander Yoannis Yera to start. Once again, Yera delivered a solid performance before an enthusiastic crowd and a skilled home team. Although he may not have been as outstanding as in his initial start against the Dominican Republic, Yera managed to pitch four innings, throwing 80 pitches and allowing only two runs despite the high pressure and challenging environment. He encountered difficulties starting in the third inning when Taipei scored its first run. Yera allowed just one base runner in the second inning due to a full-count single by catcher Dai Pei-Fong. However, in the third inning, after striking out the eighth hitter Lin Chia-Cheng, Yera walked Yueh Tung-Hua. Following the second out, a double by Giljegiljaw Kungkuan brought Lin to the plate with the, at then end, decisive run of the game. One inning later, another walk sparked trouble for the Cuban starter. Yera walked Tseng Song-En to start the inning, followed by consecutive singles from Pan Chieh-Kai and Dai Pei-Fong, which loaded the bases. Chang Cheng-Yu hit a grounder through second base, forcing out the runner from second, but shortstop Arruebarena couldn't complete the double play at first, allowing Tseng to score from third, making it 2-0 on a fielder's choice. The inning could have been more productive for the home team, but Yera managed to retire Lin Chia-Cheng with a foul pop-up to third base and struck out Yueh Tung-Hua. Cuba didn't have many offensive opportunities, but Chinese Taipei also fought back with all its might against the Cuban team. “In a low-scoring game like this, defense and pitching are key,” Taipei coach Tseng Hao-Jiu said during the press conference. “The center fielder's throw to the catcher in the fifth inning, which eventually caused Dai to retire Arruebarrena at home plate, was one of the best examples.” And this was indeed Cuba's clearest chance to score in the game. With one out, Arruebarrena doubled down the left field line and when Andrys Pérez singled to center, Chiu Chih-Cheng's throw landed precisely on the catcher's mascot and although the play was initially called safe, video review confirmed the out, keeping the score the same, 2-0. Cuba managed another single in the sixth inning by Roel Santos to left field, but it was the final one of the four hits the team achieved throughout the game. This was against a sequence of seven relievers who, following Santos' single, performed flawlessly by retiring the final 11 Cuban batters, with two strikeouts in the ninth inning. “Chinese Taipei's pitchers threw a great game,” Cuban manager Armando Johnson told the press after the game. “Congratulations to Japan and Chinese Taipei for advancing to the Super Round.” Johnson briefly commented on the Cuban team's performance, stating, “Despite the disappointing results, in last night's game against Japan, I saw the old Cuban team I know. I am pleased to have witnessed my players giving their all, both on and off the field.” He added, “As long as they give their best, I hold no blame against them.” Indeed, the Cuban team aimed to be among the top four in these Premier12 editions for the first time. However, a disappointing start with defeats against the Dominican Republic and South Korea, where the offense managed just two runs in the first 16 innings of the tournament, completely altered the team's prospects. Adding to this are the injuries to two of the team's stars: starting pitcher Liván Moinelo and third baseman Yoán Moncada. Moinelo was affected by the flu and a stomach ailment throughout the week, which hindered his performance, resulting in two of Cuba’s four losses. Meanwhile, Moncada missed part of the game against South Korea after a ball struck his right hand, sidelining him and preventing him from playing regularly in the matches against Australia and Japan. Thus, it can be said that the tournament was not an ideal scenario for mentor Johnson. With this victory, Chinese Taipei will join Japan in Tokyo to compete against the two qualifiers from Group A, the United States and Venezuela, in the Super Round, beginning on Thursday. Three days afterward, the top two teams from the Super Round will vie for the tournament title, while the other two will contend for the bronze medal. CUBA - CHINESE TAIPEI - Highlights

BUNKYO CITY, Tokyo - In a game when the legendary Ichiro Suzuki was present, Japan secured a 9-6 win against Chinese Taipei, marking their 27th consecutive victory in international competitions. This took place on the final day of the Super Round of the WBSC Premier12, presented by RAXUS, at the Tokyo Dome in Bunkyō City, Tokyo, on Saturday night. Box score In a sold-out match, Japan once more triumphed over Chinese Taipei, progressing as the sole undefeated team to the tournament final, aiming to reclaim the title they secured in 2019. This marks the Japanese team's second consecutive final, achieved impressively by averaging nine runs per game during the tournament's final stage, ensuring their status as the world's best team, regardless of Sunday's outcome. The final perfectly mirrored the WBSC world rankings, as Chinese Taipei, once considered a surprise, proved its standing as the world's second-ranked team by reaching its first Premier12 final. It is also the top performance by a senior team from Taipei in international baseball since reaching the final of the 1992 Olympic Games baseball tournament in Barcelona, Spain. The Taipei team astonished everyone by opting not to start with their star left-hander Lin Yu-min, who was due to pitch according to the rules and had been announced. Instead, they replaced him with right-hander Chen Po-ching. This unforeseen change led to a protest from the Japanese team, resulting in a $3000 fine for the Taipei team at the game's conclusion. During the press conference, the Taiwanese team's manager, Hao-Jiu Tseng, justified his decision by stating, "Our aim is to enter tomorrow's game in optimal condition. This is why we opted for the change." The pitching change was immediately evident when Japan assembled a four-run rally in the bottom of the first inning against an anxious Chen. Murabayashi Itsuki initiated it all with a solo home run on just the third pitch he faced. A walk to Toshiya Sato, a hit by pitch to Ryosuke Tatsumi, and an RBI double from Shota Morishita brought in three runs. A sacrifice fly by Kotaro Kurebayashi secured the 4-0 lead, leading to Chen's exit from the game. Taipei faced left-handed starter Takahisa Hayakawa and managed to score their first run in the top of the third inning. Lin Li got on base with a walk, followed by Tseng Song-en hitting an RBI double to left field. Two innings later, Taipei narrowed the gap to one and nearly took the lead. Hayakawa's consecutive walks at the start of the inning and a single by Lin Li made it 4-2. Two additional walks pushed the score to 4-3, leaving the bases loaded with no outs. Japan decided to use their bullpen, and the choice was effective when right-hander Tatsuya Shimizu induced first baseman Chieh-Kai Pan to ground out back to him. Shimizu forced the third base runner at home, and the catcher finished the double play with Pan at first base. Shortly after, Shimizu concluded his remarkable performance by striking out Kun-Yu Chiang. As it has consistently done throughout the tournament, Japan effectively countered its opponents' attempts at a comeback. In the bottom of the inning, with the bases loaded against right-handed reliever Chun-Lin Kuo, third baseman Kotaro Kiyomiya hit a triple to center field, clearing the bases and increasing Samurai Japan's lead to 7-3. "It was a tough game, but the four runs in the first inning were crucial," Japan's manager Hirokazu Ibata commented during the press conference. "Even though they caught us during the game, we were able to regain the lead and walk comfortably from that point on." In the sixth inning, Taipei once more reduced the deficit to two, as a single followed by consecutive doubles from Cheng-Yu Chang and Chih-Cheng Chiu brought the score to 7-5. Nevertheless, Japan once more prevented any opportunity for a comeback, as in the bottom of the sixth, two singles and a double by Ryosuke Tatsumi restored their four-run lead, making it 9-5. In the ninth inning, An-Ko Lin contributed the visitors' last run by hitting a home run to right field off closer Rikuto Yokoyama, setting the final score at 9-6. Although they lost, the Taipei coach chose not to emphasize it, understanding that the true challenge lies ahead this Sunday. "Tonight was fantastic," stated Hao-Jiu Tseng. "I sincerely thank our fans and the Japanese fans for creating such a positive atmosphere." And he was absolutely right, the atmosphere this Saturday at the Tokyo Dome was on another level, but it could get better, when both teams dispute the title of the tournament this Sunday at 7:00 p.m. (local time), 5:00 a.m. (Cuba and Eastern US time). For Japan, reaching the final appears routine, whereas for Chinese Taipei, it's a historic moment, marking their first international final in 32 years. The two teams recently faced off in the final of a regional event less than a year ago, when Japan secured a 1-0 victory over Chinese Taipei in the Asian Championship final on December 10, 2023. CHINESE TAIPEI - JAPAN - Highlights USA 6, Venezuela 5 In the first game of the day, which ended up defining the advance of Chinese Taipei to the final, Team USA defeated Venezuela 6-5, recording its first victory of the Super Round in a hard-fought match. Box score It was a game where the Venezuelans made a tremendous comeback after being down 5-0 in the sixth inning. The Americans scored five runs against Venezuela, with two runs off starter Jesús Vargas and another three against the second reliever, Anthony Vizcaya, establishing an early 5-0 lead after five and a half innings. However, following the exit of American starter Touki Toussaint, who pitched four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out four, and the first reliever, Antonio Menéndez, Venezuela gradually chipped away at the lead with a run in the sixth and another in the seventh innings. Then, in the eighth inning, pinch hitter Diego Castillo tied the game with a three-run homer, igniting excitement on the Venezuelan bench. "I had been looking forward to that at-bat. I couldn't wait to get my chance in this game. When I walked up to the plate, I was looking for a good pitch to hit," Castillo said at the postgame press conference. But the joy was short-lived. In the top of the ninth inning, designated hitter Ryan Ward decided the game, hitting a solo shot off Venezuelan closer Enderson Franco. "He threw me a changeup first," Ward said after the game. "I got a good look at it and sat on that pitch. I had already missed one, but I managed to hit the next one that was in the zone. It was the greatest moment of my life and I was able to share it with my teammates. Running around the bases was incredible." History could repeat itself again, when both teams battle with greater intensity for third place in this Premier12, starting on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. (local time), 10:00 p.m. (Cuba and Eastern US time). Team USA aims to return to the winners' podium in these tournaments following its second-place finish in the 2015 inaugural edition. Meanwhile, Venezuela looks to enhance its already solid fourth-place standing, having previously finished seventh in 2019 and tenth in 2015. USA - VENEZUELA - Highlights

BUNKYO CITY, Tokyo - In a sold-out Tokyo Dome for the second straight night, Chinese Taipei made history, blanking defending champion Japan 4-0 to claim the biggest title in its history in international baseball with the championship of the WBSC Premier12 presented by RAXUS on Sunday night. Box score It was a historic night as Chinese Taipei not only secured its first world title but also defeated the world's top team by shutting out Japan on its home ground. This victory ended Japan's 27-game international winning streak that began in 2019 and avenged a 1-0 loss in the final of the 2023 Asian Championship. "I want to extend my congratulations to everyone and express my deep gratitude to the players, who performed excellently until the end," said Taipei manager Tseng Hao-Jiu following the game. "Competing alongside them as a manager is a great honor for me." Meanwhile, Japan's manager Hirokazu Ibata did not criticize his team or players and solely held himself accountable for the defeat. "From the first match to today, there were nine games," Ibata stated. "I believe the players performed exceptionally well. I hold myself fully accountable for not winning the final game, and I deeply regret it for the players." It turned out to be an ideal night for the victors. Taipei had all the elements in place: an excellent start from their star pitcher, left-hander Yu-Min Li, who held Samurai Japan scoreless for four innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three. The bullpen then performed nearly flawlessly, pitching five innings with only three hits, five strikeouts, and no walks. The essential offensive support arrived in just one inning, the fifth, where two home runs proved overwhelming for Japan. On this Sunday night, Japan couldn't defeat its opponent, despite having won against them twice in the tournament, including once merely 24 hours earlier. Chinese Taipei's victory marks the third title for Asian teams in the Premier12 tournaments, with previous wins by South Korea in 2015 and Japan in 2019. Although Japan lost, they ended the tournament with the best record, 8-1, reaffirming their global dominance and securing their third medal in consecutive Premier12 editions. At the end of the match, Chieh-Hsien Chen, the captain of Chinese Taipei and the standout player of the game, was deservedly awarded the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Chen played a vital role not only in Sunday's victory but also consistently excelled throughout the tournament, achieving an impressive .625/.700/.917 offensive line with 15 hits, two home runs, five runs scored, and six RBIs. "I'm extremely thankful," Chen stated at the press conference. "Emerging victorious against a strong team is a highly rewarding experience for me." "Togo is an excellent pitcher, and I was familiar with him from previous encounters," he mentioned. "I was determined to win the battle and had faith in my chances." The game In the first two innings, both starting pitchers, Japan's right-hander Shoei Togo and Taipei's left-hander Yu-Min Li, appeared focused. Chinese Taipei made its initial threat in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Chen Chen-Wei drew a walk, and Lin Li hit a single to right field, advancing Chen to third base. However, Togo swiftly neutralized the threat by getting Chen Chieh-Hsien to ground out to the shortstop, which forced the runner at second base. Japan would hit their first hit leading off the bottom of the third inning, off the bat of shortstop Sosuke Genda. Keita Sano would give up the first out on a fly out to second base, but starter Yu-Min Lin would get into more trouble, walking Shogo Sakakura. However, Japan would also see their first opportunity with a runner in scoring position thwarted, when Masayuki Kuwahara struck out and the always clutch, Kaito Kozono, popped out to center for the third out. In the fourth inning, Japan began with a walk to Ryosuke Tatsumi, but Lin efficiently handled Shota Morishita, Ryoya Kurihara, and Shugo Maki consecutively. Morishita and Kurihara were both retired on fly balls to center field, while Maki was out on a grounder to second base, where Tung-Hua Yueh made an impressive diving catch to his left and threw Maki out at first. Finally, Taipei opened the scoring when Chia-Cheng Lin hit a home run deep into right field in the top of the fifth inning, igniting excitement among the large crowd of Taipei's fans in the stadium. However, this was merely the beginning of a larger rally in the inning. After Cheng-Yu Chang struck out, Chen-Wei Chen hit a single and advanced to second base following a walk to Lin Li. Togo received a visit from his coach before the next at-bat, but it didn't make a difference as Chen Chieh-Hsien hit a three-run home run to right field, securing a 4-0 lead for Taipei that they held onto for the rest of the game. After four strong innings, Lin turned the game over to the bullpen in the fifth. The left-hander delivered 69 pitches, 41 of which were strikes, allowing only one Japanese player to reach scoring position, while giving up two walks on one hit and striking out three. Most crucially, his team had provided excellent offensive backing, and it was now up to the bullpen to preserve it. In the fifth inning, reliever Chang Yi allowed two singles with two outs but prevented Japan from scoring by getting Kozono to ground out to first baseman Chief-Kai Pan. Surprisingly, this would be Japan's final significant threat in the game. For Japan, starter Togo did not come back for the sixth inning. He completed five innings, throwing 95 pitches with seven strikeouts, two walks, and allowing four runs. The fifth inning proved to be especially difficult, ranking as the two most troublesome in the game, primarily because Togo couldn't keep the ball in the ballpark, the main reason of Japan's defeat. In the sixth inning for Taipei, reliever Yi improved significantly, retiring the side in order, including strikeouts against Tatsumi and Kurihara, bringing Taipei just nine outs from securing its first world title. In the seventh, Taipei was close to knocking Japan out of the game. Chen-Wei Chen and Lin Li started the inning with singles, suggesting the team might soon increase their lead. However, reliever Shishiro Sumida thwarted the threat by striking out Chieh-Hsien Chen and An-Ko Lin. He finished the inning by getting Pan Chieh-Kai to ground out to shortstop. Although the play was initially ruled safe at first base, a video review overturned the call, confirming it as an out and maintaining the score. Meanwhile, Taipei's bullpen, featuring right-hander Chang and left-hander Kuan-Yu Chen, was tasked with minimizing Japan's offense—a team that appeared unbeatable and unstoppable prior to the final, averaging 9.5 runs in its last four games. Following Kuwahara's hit in the fifth inning, both relievers impressively retired ten consecutive batters, recording five strikeouts, mirroring the outstanding performance of the Taiwanese starter. In the ninth inning, the streak ended when Tatsumi hit a single to right off closer Cheng-Yu Chang. Chang then got Morishita to ground out, advancing Tatsumi to second. Kurihara hit a sharp line drive to first base, but the first baseman turned a double play, sparking celebrations among the players in a nation where baseball is a beloved passion. CHINESE TAIPEI - JAPAN - Highlights USA 6, Venezuela 1 Early in the afternoon for the bronze medal, Team USA disposed of Venezuela 6-1, riding on the arm of starter Casey Lawrence and the offense of Carson Williams with three RBIs. Box score The medal was the second for the Americans in Premier12 editions, following their silver medal at the inaugural edition in 2015. USA - VENEZUELA - Highlights At the end of the title game, the tournament's All-Star roster was announced, dominated basically by the four teams that advanced to the Super Round of the tournament. Cuba did not place any of its players in the All-Star roster. The next edition of the Premier12 will be in 2027, with the incentive of a larger tournament after the exponential success of the three previous editions.

BUNKYO CITY, Tokyo - Shugo Maki, the exuberant player and captain of the Yokohama DeNA BayStars, put the finishing touches on a sixth-inning comeback with a grand slam that propelled Japan to a 9-6 victory over Venezuela in a showdown between the top two teams in the WBSC Premier12 presented by RAXUS at the Tokyo Dome in Bunkyō City, Tokyo on Friday night. Box score The home run was a wake-up call for the Venezuelans, who had kept the Japanese hitters in check for four innings and had just taken a narrow lead in the top of the sixth. This lead came from their second two-run home run of the game, hit by their cleanup hitter and designated hitter, Carlos Pérez. "Sakakura hit a home run to get us closer and then Kozono came on base with two outs. So it was more of an effort from everyone to create scoring opportunities and I think the home run was thanks to everyone's contributions," Maki said during the press conference. "When I heard the crowd roar, it was really the best feeling I had. The energy in the stadium was amazing and I'm very happy with the result," he concluded. Japan had taken an early lead in the game, sending former major league starter Ricardo Pinto back to the bench. Pinto barely got one out and was in constant trouble, getting hit hard by the middle of the Japanese lineup to plate three runs in the first inning. Kaito Kozono kicked things off by smashing the first pitch from Pinto for a double. Center fielder Ryosuke Tatsumi then hit another double off the left field wall, bringing in Kozono for the 1-0 lead. Shota Morishita added a single to center, making it 2-0, and Pinto walked Ryoya Kurihara and Maki Shugo, prompting Venezuela to bring in left-hander Johander Méndez from the bullpen. Sosuke Genda hit a grounder resulting in a force out at second base, but Venezuela couldn't complete the double play at first, allowing Morishita to score and extend the lead to 3-0. Against right-handed starter Hiroto Saiki, Venezuela made a comeback in the second inning. With one out, Herlis Rodríguez hit a single, followed by left fielder Angel Reyes hitting a two-run homer, narrowing Venezuela's deficit to 3-2. Saiki would recover, keeping the score the same for five innings, allowing only the two hits in the second inning with one walk, five strikeouts, nine whiffs in 88 pitches. And although Venezuela's bullpen held the lead until Perez's homer in the sixth, the truth is that Samurai Japan missed countless scoring opportunities, leaving seven men on base in the first three innings, including the second inning, where the bases were loaded. On this, Japanese manager Hirokazu Ibata said "We took a three-run lead, but when you miss opportunities to score more runs, that can lead to a situation like this. If we had taken advantage of those opportunities, I think the game could have been a little more comfortable." When Venezuela silenced the entire Tokyo Dome crowd by scoring three runs in the sixth inning against the first Japanese reliever, left-hander Haruto Inoue, it seemed that Japan's streak of 25 consecutive wins in international competitions would end there. However, Japan would have the answer quickly in the bottom of the inning. Catcher Shogo Sakakura initiated an impressive six-run inning with a home run to center field, narrowing Japan's deficit to 5-4. At this point, Venezuela's bullpen faced significant challenges, with coach Omar López frequently switching pitchers, using three more relievers who eventually loaded the bases. The inning's last pitcher, right-hander Pedro García, walked Kurihara, enabling Kozono to score and tie the game. The rest is history. García was unable to overpower Maki, who sealed the play with his powerful hit to left field on the second pitch he encountered. Following Inoue's rough beginning in the sixth, Japan's bullpen took over, deploying four pitchers who collectively delivered three innings, allowing just one run. They gave up five hits, three in the ninth inning, and recorded three strikeouts. Japan extended its winning streak to 26 consecutive games, and this Saturday, the team will showcase it against Chinese Taipei at 7:00 p.m. (local time), 5:00 a.m. (Cuba and Eastern U.S. time) at the Tokyo Dome. A victory over Taipei will secure Japan's place in the final of this Premier12, where they aim to defend their 2019 title. VENEZUELA - JAPAN - Highlights Chinese Taipei 8, USA 2 A day after suffering its first shutout loss at the WBSC Premier12, Taiwan bounced back with a solid 8-2 win over Team USA yesterday, keeping its hopes of a place in Sunday's final alive. Box score The Super Round victory was Chinese Taipei's first triumph over Team USA in a major international baseball tournament since 2003. The win occurred during the 2003 Baseball World Cup quarterfinals, with a score of 2-1. Additionally, this marked the third occasion in international competitions where Chinese Taipei has defeated both Cuba and the USA in the same event. The game closely resembled the earlier matchup between Venezuela and Japan, with Taipei maintaining a narrow 3-2 advantage until a significant offensive surge in the seventh inning. Facing Team USA's 36-year-old relief pitcher Spencer Patton, Taipei loaded the bases with two hits and a walk, allowing shortstop Chian Kun-Yu to smash a bases-clearing triple off the center field wall, securing a commanding 6-2 lead for the Asian team. “I was ready to take advantage of my second bases-loaded at-bat of the game,” Chian said during the press conference. He then added, “The hit was like a pill of comfort for the team.” “Everyone on this team has been doing their best, working hard for the team, for Taiwan, for the Taiwanese fans and for those who traveled to Japan to cheer us on,” he continued. “It feels like we are all united and that is an amazing feeling.” With a 2-1 lead, first baseman Pan Chie-Kai hit a solo homer in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 3-1. Cheng-Yu Chang's double and Chen-Wei Chen's triple had given Taipei a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning off Team USA's first reliever, right-hander Sam Benschoter. In the bottom of the inning, Team USA responded with a single from Termarr Johnson, a double from Willie Maciver, and a sacrifice fly from Justin Cranwford. They added another run in the fifth inning with a solo home run by Colby Thomas. However, the underwhelming American team's offense was halted at just two runs, constrained by eight Taipei pitchers. From the sixth inning onward, the final four pitchers delivered four scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and achieving five strikeouts. In total, Taipei struck out 10 Team USA hitters. Following the triple by Chinese Taipei, they added two more runs in the inning, completing a five-run inning that secured the final score of 8-2. The win leaves Chinese Taipei with a clear chance of reaching the final on Sunday, but to achieve this, they must defeat Samurai Japan on Saturday or wait for the Americans to beat Venezuela. Meanwhile, Team USA needs to win against Venezuela by 10 runs and hope Japan defeats Taipei, which would result in all teams, except for undefeated Japan, having a 1-2 record, thus relying on the tournament's tiebreaker coefficient to determine their fate. CHINESE TAIPEI - USA - Highlights

BUNKYO CITY, Tokyo - It begins for twelve and concludes for two, and on Thursday, at the commencement of the Super Round of the WBSC Premier12 world tournament sponsored by RAXUS, at the Tokyo Dome in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan and Venezuela indicated that they might be the two finalists in this third edition of the Premier12 tournament. On a cold night at the Tokyo Dome, Japan attacked Team USA with everything, to defeat the American team by a score of 9-1 and start the defense of its title on a good pace in this decisive stage of the tournament in view of the final this Sunday. Box score "The win that really matters is the one we achieved today," said Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata. "Of course, all the previous wins matter, they were achieved by other coaches and different players and they make us proud, but we are not focused on the streak - 25 consecutive wins by the Japanese squad in major international events - we want to concentrate on the next game to win it." It is certainly worth watching to admire the efficiency of the Japanese team. Although the squad doesn't seem focused on maintaining any streak—and let's be honest, all streaks eventually end—victories in any round of an international tournament simplify the task and pave the way forward. Since Japan's scare against the Cuban team last Saturday, November 17, when they narrowly defeated Cuba 7-6 after being tied at six runs in seven and a half innings, Japan has firmly established its favoritism. They scored 20 runs in their next two games with 25 hits, while limiting their opponents to just four runs and 14 hits, achieving convincing victories against the Dominican Republic and Team USA today. This Thursday followed the usual pattern. Both starting pitchers were impressive in the first four innings, with 44-year-old American veteran Rich Hill allowing just one hit, striking out five, and issuing no walks. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Japanese right-hander Hiroto Takahashi struck out eight, allowing two hits and a walk. In the fifth inning, Japan would eventually secure the win, its 25th consecutive victory in WBSC top-level international tournaments. “In my previous start against South Korea, my fastball and splitter were working well, but I couldn’t get a third pitch like my cutter or curveball to work,” Takahashi said during the press conference. “This time, all my pitches worked and I was able to adjust to the hitters without any problems.” Team USA struck first in the top of the fifth inning, when after Takahashi left the game, left-handed reliever Chihiro Sumida gave up a solo home run to left fielder Colby Thomas. Japan will answer quickly. Rich Hill left the mound after only 58 pitches—43 of them strikes—in a decision characteristic of modern baseball that defies logic. Japan capitalized on this "mistake" by American coach Mike Scioscia. "You don't have to look at his age. Rich still has talent, he can still play at the highest level," said Team USA manager Mike Scioscia anyway. "He gave us four solid innings." During the fifth inning against reliever Darrell Thompson, Sosuke Genda and Keita Sano hit singles, followed by Shogo Sakakura's double down the right field line, which tied the game. Shortly after, Sano mistakenly ran to the plate on a grounder to first baseman Masayuki Kuwahara. However, second baseman Kaito Kozono redeemed the error by hitting a triple down the right field line, clearing the bases and giving Japan a 3-1 lead, which they maintained for the rest of the game. Japan would strike again just two innings later, when off the fourth American reliever, left-hander Austin Drury, Kozono hit a three-run homer to extend Japan's lead to 6-1. The night continued triumphantly for Kozono, the game's MVP, as he hit his second home run in the eighth inning, bringing in two runs and securing the final score of 9-1. Prior to Kozono's homer, Masayuki Kuwahara had extended Japan's lead to 7-1 with a single to center-field that drove in Ryota Isobata. Japan, whose main goal was to curtail the power of Team USA, the tournament's leading home run hitter with 9, successfully achieved this objective. Despite Thomas' home run, Japan's pitching, which included four relievers, looked immense against Team USA, leaving them with only 6 hits, two extra-base hits and striking out 16. Ultimately, the message was clear: Samurai Japan will be a tough team to beat at the Tokyo Dome. With unwavering support from their fans and flawless performance on the field, this team showcases the magic of having remained undefeated in international competitions since 2019. The streak will be in everyone's sights, when this Friday Samurai Japan faces Venezuela at 7:00 pm (local time), 5:00 am (Cuba and Eastern US time). USA - JAPAN - Highlights Venezuela 2, Chinese Taipei 0 And in the afternoon, during the match that kicked off the Super Round, Venezuela scored a big win, beating Chinese Taipei 2-0 at the Tokyo Dome. The difference in the match was a two-run home run by Carlos Pérez in the fourth inning that gave the Venezuelans a definitive lead. Box score "I was looking for a breaking ball. He threw me a slider that hung just enough for me to make good contact," Pérez said after the game. With the win, the Venezuelan team, under manager Omar López, secured its fifth victory in six games in this competition, continuing a streak of success that will be tested this Friday when the team faces the still undefeated Japan. "I would say that pitch was the only mistake in a game in which both teams played very well," said the Venezuelan manager at the press conference. "Overall it was a great game. Chinese Taipei had a great chance to score in the fifth, but Pedro García was able to get the last out and get us out of the bases loaded jam." The win was marked by an eight-man shutout of Venezuelan pitching, with seven hits and 13 strikeouts. After the departure of starter Nivaldo Rodríguez, who struck out five and allowed only three hits in four innings, seven other pitchers saw work with Oddanier Mosqueda taking the win, after completing 1 2/3 scoreless innings between the eighth and ninth innings. Right-hander Enderson Franco was in charge of closing out the game, coming in with two outs in the ninth inning, striking out Kun-Yu Chiang for the save. Taipei's right-hander Huang Tzu-Peng took the loss after allowing Pérez's home run, completing 4 2/3 innings of five hits with three strikeouts and no walks. "I think you have to give credit to the hitter," said Chinese Taipei manager Hao-Ju Tseng. "Our starter pitched very well." And this Friday, in a clash of undefeated teams, Venezuela will battle Japan at night, 7:00 pm (local time) at the Tokyo Dome, and in the afternoon, 12:00 pm (local time), Chinese Taipei will seek its first victory, when it faces the loser of this opening day of the Super Round, Team USA. CHINESE TAIPEI - VENEZUELA - Highlights