Day 3:
Cuba 12, China 0 F/7
In their second game, Cuba had a much easier time verse an over-matched China. In a critical second game for both teams Cuba flexed their muscle while the Pool A advancing scenarios were made really easy. Frederich Cepeda put Cuba up 1-0 early with a two out- RBI triple in the bottom of the first. Cuba didn't wait much longer to add to the lead, Jose Abreu's RBI double in the bottom of the third made it a 2-0 lead. Cuba would pull away with a four run-fourth and would erase any doubts with a six run-fifth inning. Alexei Bell started the action with a two run home run in the bottom of the fourth, followed by Alfredo Despaigne's two run double. Jose Fernandez hit a two run single to make it 8-0 in the bottom of the fifth. Any chance China had left was sent out of the park with Jose Abreu's 410 foot Grand Slam to cap off the six run inning. Mercifully, the run rule was in effect and ended the game after seven innings. Danny Betancourt got the win by only allowing one hit and one walk over 4.2 innings, while recording eight strikeouts. China was only able to manage three hits of the dominant Cuban pitching. Jose Fernandez led Cuba going 3-4 with 2 RBI and 4 Runs scored. Frederich Cepeda went 2-3 with 2 Runs scored, a walk, and a RBI and Jose Abreu posted a powerful game going 2-4 with a grand slam and a RBI triple. Cuba moves to 2-0, clinching them and Japan a spot in the second round. China falls to 0-2 and will be eliminated with Brazil.South Korea 6, Australia 0
In a must-win game for both sides, it was South Korea who got off to a fast and furious start. In the top of the first with the bases loaded and one out, Hyunsoo Kim hit a two run single to quickly give Korea a 2-0 lead. Ahseop Son followed with a RBI ground-into-fielder's-choice to make it 3-0. Seung Yuop Lee's RBI double in the top of the second would give Korea a 4-0 lead. The South Korean pitchers, led by Seung Song, dominated the Aussies by only allowing six hits. Tim Kennelly got himself on base to leadoff the fifth and seventh innings for Australia, but the Korean pitchers would prevent any damage. South Korea would add runs in the seventh and ninth innings en route to a 6-0 win. Korea was led by Seung Yuop Lee who went 3-5 with one RBI and two Runs scored. Yongkyu Lee went 2-3 with two walks and one Run scored. Seung Song led the Korea pitching staff by throwing four innings, allowing just two hits and two walks and also
stricking out five to get the win. The six Korean pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts. Kennelly and Mike Walker each had two hits for Australia. South Korea goes to 1-1, while Australia falls to 0-2.Day 4:
Netherlands 4, Australia 1
China 5, Brazil 2
Both teams were already eliminated, but still had their pride and a berth in the 2017 Classic at stake. Brazil would score a run in the second and seventh innings, caring a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the eighth. China exploded for five runs in their half of the eighth, starting with a leadoff single by Weiqiang Meng. Back-to-back walks would load the bases with one out for Lei Li who would also draw a walk to bring in the first run. Ray Chang would follow with a two run single to give China the lead for good. Back-to-back walks would bring in to more runs and China comes back to win 5-2. Ray Chang led China, going 3-4 with two RBI. Each team had six hits and China drew six base on balls. Both teams are eliminated, but China finishes 1-2 and earned their spot for 2017; while Brazil goes home 0-3.South Korea 3, Chinese Taipei 2
The biggest game of the night took the stage to conclude Pool B. Taipei entered 2-0, while Korea had a 1-1 record. Taipei with a win would win the pool and send Netherlands through outright. South Korea had to win by at least six runs, because of tiebreakers, in order to advance. Chinese Taipei took an early 2-0 lead with runs in the third and fourth innings. Both pitching staffs scattered hits throughout the game but would prevent either side from having a major inning. Taipei quietly was in control as they carried a 2-0 for the majority of the night. It was too little, too late for South Korea as they made their move in the bottom of the eighth to comeback. Dae Ho Lee cut the defecit to one with a RBI single and after the first two outs Jungho Kang would belt a two run home run to put Korea up 3-2. Kang's home run would hold up to be the winner, but it would not be enough as South Korea wins 3-2 but still fails to advance. Chinese Taipei, Netherlands, and South Korea all finished 2-1. The head-to-heads were all one win, one loss. Based on having the best runs allowed average (Allowing the least runs in pool play) Chinese Taipei wins the pool and advances to the second round. The head-to-head result was used to break the tie between Netherlands and Korea, the Dutch won the match 5-0, therefore advancing into the second round as the Pool B runners-up. South Korea is eliminated. Day 5:
Cuba 6, Japan 3
In the only game of the day, and final game of Pool A, Japan and Cuba entered this one with already having clinched a spot in the second round. They only thing at stake was aa 3-0 record and winning Pool A. Both starting pitchers had solid performances and we were scorelss until the bottom of the third when Yasmany Tomas broke the silence with a towering 469 foot solo home run to make it 1-0 Cuba. Cuba wouldn't wait much longer to add to their lead as Jose Fernandez led off the bottom of the fourth with a single and Frederich Cepeda followed with a RBI double to make it 2-0. Jose Abreu would extend the lead to 3-0 with a RBI single in the bottom of the sixth. Japan had a couple of opportunities to get a run across, but was shut down each time by the Cuban pitching. Cuba would blow it open in the bottom of the eighth with Alfredo Despaigne's three run home run that went a modest 422 feet. Japan would score all three of their runs in the top of the ninth thanks to three walks and a wild pitch. The Cuban starter Wilber Perez got the win, pitching three shutout innings, while only allowing three hits and one walk to go along with his three strikeouts. The Cuban bullpen followed by striking out five, and other than a wild ninth containing the Japanese bats. Jose Fernandez went 2-3 with a Run, Alfredo Despaigne and Jose Abreu each went 2-4, combining for two Runs and four RBI. Sho Nakata and Hirokazu Ibata combine for four of Japan's seven hits, with Ibata having an RBI. Cuba finishes 3-0 to win Pool A and Japan will advance as the runner-up with a 2-1 record. First Round: Pools A and B Final Standings
Pool A Pool B
*Cuba 3-0 *Chinese Taipei 2-1
Japan 2-1 Netherlands 2-1
x-China 1-2 x-South Korea 2-1
x-Brazil 0-3 x-Australia 0-3
* denotes Pool winner, teams in color advance to second round.
Second Round Pool 1
The second round is a modified double elimination format that will send the last two teams from Pool 1 and Pool 2 to the semifinals. Pool 1 will be held from March 8th (10 p.m. EST March 7th) to March 12th at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan.
The opening round games are Cuba (Pool A winner) vs. Netherlands (Pool B runner-up) and Chinese Taipei (Pool B winner) vs. Japan (Pool A runner-up). The losers will play in an elimination game on March 9th, and the winners will play on March 10th. The loser on the 9th will be eliminated, while the winner on the 9th will play whoever loses on the 10th on March 11th. The winner of the March 10th and March 11th games will both advance to the semis, but will play one game to determine who wins the pool and who is the runner-up. Basically two wins are needed to advance to the semis, the team that wins three games will win the pool, and if you loose twice you are eliminated.
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