'Korea's Desperate... He was defeated by KK Cuba 6-7 Japan in the ninth inning with one out and a full base. Taiwan is also leading the group 8-2 for the fourth consecutive win in Japan.
Nov 17, 2024
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Japan beat Cuba and won four consecutive games to secure the top spot in Group B.
Japan won 7-6 in its fourth Group B Premier 12 qualifying match against Cuba in Taiwan on the 17th.
Japan, which won against Cuba after Australia, South Korea and Taiwan to continue its group lead with four consecutive wins, will remain at the top of the group even if it loses its last game against the Dominican Republic on the 18th.
South Korea had a dramatic 9-6 come-from-behind victory over the Dominican Republic on the 16th, recording two wins and two losses, but its advance to the semifinals became slim.
For South Korea, Cuba had only two ways to win against both Japan and Taiwan, determine the winner with TQB, or Taiwan lost to both Australia and Cuba. In fact, both were unlikely, but for Korea, they had expectations of 'just in case'.
But once Cuba lost to Japan, the first method disappeared. Hayakawa Takahashi was the starting player for Japan. He is a left-hander for the Rakuten Eagles with 11 wins, 6 losses and a 2.54 ERA this season.
Raymond Figueredo, who plays in the Cuban League, started Cuba, which beat Australia the day before and recorded its first win after two losses.
In the first inning, two teams got out of the game. Cuba finished with three outs in the top of the second inning, but Japan scored the first run in the bottom of the second inning.
Leader Shota Morishita got on base with a hit ball, and when Ryota Kurihara struck out swinging, he managed to steal second base. Maki Shugo struck out and got two outs, but with two outs and a wild pitch, Sosuke Genda walked and Keita Sano's heavy hit made it 1-0. At this time, first baseman Genda jumped to third base, followed by two outs and runners on first and third bases. However, Toshiya Sato was caught on the first baseman's line drive and had to settle for one point.
In the top of the third inning, Cuban leader Roberto Valdoquin reported his team's first hit with a right-handed hit. However, Andris Perez struck out swinging, and Jean Walters hit a double play to second base to end the inning quickly.
Japan immediately scored an additional goal. On consecutive hits by the first-runner Masayuki Kurihara and Kaito Jojo, he even walked Tatsumi Ryosuke, giving him a golden opportunity with no outs and a full base.
Cuba replaced pitchers with Yuseniel Padron. Morishita Shota's sacrifice fly to center field led to a chance of 2-0.1, first and third base, but Ryota Kurihara and Shugo Maki struck out consecutively and failed to score additional points.
Cuba, which passed the big crisis to the minimum number of runs, chased it. Leadoff Roel Santos hit a triple, and Yadir Drake hit a left-handed hit to make it 1-2, one-run difference. After one out, Alfredo Despaigne walked to make the first and second bases, but Ariel Martinez and Erismel Aruébarena struck out consecutively and failed to reach the tie.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Japan created a chance for runners on the first and third bases with no outs with Sosuke Genda's heavy hit and Keita Sano's left-handed hit, followed by Toshiya Sato's sacrifice fly to left field to lead by 3-1 and again by two points.
In the top of the fifth inning, Cuba ended with three outs and Japan scored another point in the bottom of the fifth inning. Morishita's infield ground ball created a chance to score with one out and second base on Tatsumi Ryosuke's hit, and Maki Shugo hit an RBI single to the right following Kurihara Ryota's intentional four pitches. The wild pitch with one out and runners on the first and second bases led to the second and third bases, and Genda Sosuke walked and had a chance to load the bases. Keita Sano hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score one more point to make it 5-1.
A big opportunity came to Cuba in the top of the sixth inning. Leadoff Roel Santos' walk and Yadir Drake's left double made it a run, 2-5. Yoelkis Giberty struck out, but Alfredo Despaigne walked, leading to a one-out first and second base.
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Pinch-hitter Yoan Moncada then hit the right-handed hit and scored one more point to narrow the gap to one point. Cuba also issued pinch-hitter Yadir Mujica and walked. a bases loaded with two outs.
In the end, Japan replaced the pitcher again. Yokoyama went down and Shota Suzuki took the mound. He is a pitcher who recorded 27 holds at Chiba Lotte.
If Walters, who took the batter's box, hit a shot, he could have turned the tables, but he struck out swinging. Japan kept a one-point lead.
When the gap was narrowed to one point, Cuba scored a goal in the bottom of the sixth inning with a Livan Moinello. He is the ace player who won 11 games at Softbank in Japan against Japan.
However, the lead, Masayuki Guwahara, got a walk, and Kaito Jojo hit a heavy hit to create a chance for the first and second bases with no outs. Ryosuke Tatsumi's fly to center field made it to first and third bases with one out, and Shota Morishita got on base with a hit ball, creating a decisive opportunity to load the bases with one out. And Ryota Gurihara scored a valuable run after a close full count. 6-4. But Maki Shugo hit a double play in front of the shortstop and missed the chance to win for sure.
Cuba tied the game in the top of the seventh inning. Cuba, which made runners on first and second bases with no outs with a walk by Roel Santos and a hit by Yadir Drake, made a throwing error by pitcher Tatsuya Shimizu, who changed the ball hit by Alfredo Despaigne after one out, and both runners came home and became 6-6.
In the top of the eighth inning, Andy Cosme hit a heavy hit, and Cuba seemed to have a chance to turn the tables. However, Jean Walters was caught out by the pitcher with Dan Bunt rising. And Roel Santos' well-hit ball flew in front of the shortstop and was caught on a line drive. And Yadir Drake struck out a check swing.
Japan's lead, Gaito Jojo no, got on base due to a shortstop error, and Ryosuke Tatsumi was hit by the pitcher's ball and had a chance to hit the first and second bases with no outs. The first baseman is out at second base due to Marisita Shota's third baseman's hit.
The match against Ryoya Kurihara with one out and runners on the first and third bases. Both Moeenlo and Kurihara belong to Softbank. Gurihara's sacrifice fly to left field scored the winning run. 7-6 lead again.
In the top of the ninth inning, Japan's closer Fujihira Shoma took the mound. The pitcher who made 20 holds in Rakuten this season.
However, in Cuba, Alfredo Despaigne hit a heavy hit after a full count match, and Ariel Martinez also hit a left-handed hit to the first and second bases. Then, Erisbel Aruevarena was hit by the pitch, creating a decisive opportunity to turn the bases around.
Match against Yoan Moncada. 2B2S just let the fastball flow through the body and 2 outs after a strikeout was declared.
There was a sudden downpour during Andy Cosme's at-bat, but the game continued. The game ended with a swing and miss strikeout in 2B2S.
Japan was confirmed to be No. 1 in the group with four consecutive wins, and Cuba was eliminated with one win and three losses. When the Japan-Cuba match was over, Taiwan also led 8-2 as of the beginning of the ninth inning, and South Korea was also on the verge of being eliminated.
indyk@sportschosun.com
