XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup Final: Japan take thei first lead
The XXXI WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup is down to its World Championship Final.
Chinese Taipei and Japan took the field at Tianmu Stadium in Taipei City in front of 9,000 fans.
Japan @ Chinese Taipei PLAY BY PLAY
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Japan @ Chinese Taipei
Chinese Taipei and Japan took the field in front of a loud crowd of 9,000.
Chinese Taipei starter Yi Lei Sun walked Ryusei Terachi to lead off the game. Japan bunted him to second, and Ren Ogata brought him to third with a one-out single. Sun got the second out on strikes and retired Minato Maruta on a ground ball to end the at-bat.
Chinese Taipei took the lead in the bottom of the first. Hsin Chiu led off with a base hit to right centre. Chinese Taipei bunted him to second, and Japan's starter Yugo Maeda allowed hit to third with a wild pitch. Nian Hao Wang singled to right field to put the hosts ahead. Maeda got out of the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.
Yi Lei Sun walked Ren Ogata to lead off the fourth. Japan used the sacrifice bunt to advance him to second. With one out, Minato Maruta tried to bunt for the hit. Ogata advanced to third, and Maruta was called out at first. Japan asked for the on-field review. The challenge was successful, and the call was reversed.
With runners at the corners and one out, Kazuki Takanaka looked at two balls and executed a perfect bunt between the mound and the third base line to squeeze in Ogata from third. Nian Wao Hang tried to get the out at first base, but his throw was wide, and Maruta also scored. Takanaka reached second on the play.
- On Day 11: Korea earn bronze medal
- On Day 10: Korea and United States will play for a bronze medal
- On Day 9: Chinese Taipei and Japan head to World Championship Final
- On Day 8: Chinese Taipei shut out USA, remain only undefeated team
- On Day 7: Chinese Taipei finish undefeated, two games postponed
- On Day 6: USA, JPN, NED tied, KOR to Super Round, TPE-PUR postponed
- On Day 5: Chinese Taipei, Japan, USA, Netherlands and Puerto Rico advance to Super Round
- On Day 4: Chinese Taipei and Japan lead respective groups undefeated
- On Day 3: Chinese Taipei, Japan, USA earn second win
- On Day 2: USA, Panama and Japan win, two games postponed
- On Day 1: Chinese Taipei shut out Australia