A mix of game types happened on Sunday — some close (and maybe surprisingly so), some where a team obliterated another.
If you’re only here to read about the Braves, well:
- Ozzie Albies: 1-for-3, K
- Chadwick Tromp: 0-for-3, K
- Nacho Alvarez Jr.: 1-for-3, 2 R
Japan 4, Australia 3. Who had Japan beating a team in pool play by a run or less? After not quite smashing Korea, this was another close shave. Aussie hurler Connor McDonald somehow managed to avoid trouble despite a 1/3 K/BB ratio in three frames. Australia scored first on an errant throw to third base on a steal attempt, but Japan went
back ahead on a Masataka Yoshida two-run homer off one-time Braves farmhand Jon Kennedy. Ky Hampton then failed to follow up McDonald’s dance through the raindrops, as he walked four (including walking in a run) while recording just one out, making it a 4-1 game. Southern Thunder then made it a bit of a nail-biter as Alex Hall and Rixon Wingrove hit homers off Taisei Ota to make it a one-run game, but Robbie Perkins grounded out to end it. Chihiro Sumida was really impressive for the Samurai, striking out seven in three frames.
Cuba 7, Colombia 4. This game wasn’t really close despite the score. It was 4-1 after an inning, as Luis Patino struggled again and gave up a three-run homer to Ariel Martinez before recording his only out of the game. Erisbel Arruebarrena added a solo shot to chase Patino. Both teams also rallied in the sixth, but unfortunately for Colombia they got just a single run while a muffed catch and a triple made it 7-2. Colombia plated a couple off a struggling Emmanuel Chapman, but that was really it. Somehow, Cuba won despite a 9/10 K/BB ratio from its pitchers, which probably had something to do with some good fortune in terms of escaping self-created jams.
Dominican Republic 12, Netherlands 1. Luis Severino cruised through four innings for Team D.R., and Albert Abreu followed with two strong frames of his own. The same could not be said for Oranje pitchers, who collectively had nothing en route to a 5/11 K/BB ratio and four homers allowed. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. drove in the first run of the game, and then later had a two-run shot to make it 4-0. Homers by Junior Caminero and Austin Wells made it 9-0, and seventh-inning two-run homer by Juan Soto ended the game on the mercy rule.
Italy 7, Great Britain 4. Like the Cuba-Colombia game, this one wasn’t that close either, as Italy went up 7-2 through five. Great Britain scored on two wild pitches in the first, but didn’t manage to get much else going. Back-to-back homers by Andrew Fischer and J.J. D’Orazio tied the game, and Fischer later untied it with an RBI single that was part of a three-run rally. Sam Antonacci later had a little league homer to make it 7-2. Great Britain later scored two more, including another (third overall!) run on a wild pitch, but couldn’t muster more.
Israel 5, Nicaragua 0. You just feel bad for Nicaragua, man. They were an out a way from their first-ever WBC victory and then fell prey to an Ozzie Albies walkoff homer, and instead of rebounding, they stumbled upon this dud. Dean Kremer and company stifled their bats, and when Nicaragua finally got a chance to break through, Freddy Zamora hit into a 5-3 double play in a 3-1 count with the bases loaded. Israel followed with four-run walks-and-BABIP rally and that was pretty much that. Nicaragua probably isn’t winning against Venezuela, so, oof.
Panama 4, Canada 3. Does this qualify as an upset? Team Canada probably thinks so. Both starters dealt with a fair bit of traffic, but Canada struck first with an Abraham Toro RBI double in the second. Both teams then traded RBI singles, but Panama pulled ahead on a pinch-hit, bases-loaded infield single by Ruben Tejada. Another infield single made it 4-2. Owen Caissie’s double late made it 4-3, but that was all Canada had. The Panamanian relief corps was excellent (8/1 K/BB ratio over 5 1/3 innings), led by Miguel Cienfuegos’ 2 1/3 perfect frames.
Mexico 16, Brazil 0. There are a lot of poor pitching staffs in the WBC, but Brazil’s has to take the cake, yeah? This was more or less just batting practice, as Mexico scored in all but one frame until the mercy rule kicked in. Brazil’s pitching staff had more homers allowed in those six innings (four) than strikeouts (two).
Seven more games will happen on Monday, including a pivotal Australia-Korea game that is happening right now, and a Puerto Rico-Cuba matchup that will help decide the ultimate seeding in Pool A.
