WBSC roundup: US wins to advance to semis
The United States beat the Netherlands, 6-1, on Sunday night in Taoyuan, Taiwan, to advance to the semifinals of the WBSC Premier12 Tournament.
Team USA will take on Mexico -- a 4-3 upset winner over previously undefeated Canada -- in the semifinals Friday in Tokyo. During pool play, the U.S. beat Mexico, 10-0.
Zack Segovia was the winning pitcher, improving to 2-0 in the tournament. He threw five innings of three-hit, one-run ball while striking out three. Brooks Pounders (Royals) threw four innings in relief, scattering just one hit and one walk while striking out three.
"This was a nice win for us, it gets us into the big dance if you will, and that's what we were looking for," manager Willie Randolph told USA Baseball. "It was a good game for us overall -- we started out a little slow, but once we got some chances, we capitalized on them. Just a good team win today."
Left fielder Brett Phillips (Brewers) led the way for Team USA with two hits. Center fielder Jacob May (White Sox), second baseman Adam Frazier (Pirates), first baseman Matt McBride (Rockies) and third baseman Tyler Pastornicky all had RBIs.
Former Major League All-Star Andruw Jones, playing first base for the Netherlands, went 1-for-4 in the cleanup spot.
After the Netherlands took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, the U.S. scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth -- thanks to four Netherlands errors -- and held on.
Mexico 4, Canada 3
Mexico scored three runs in the top of the eighth to come back and steal a 4-3 win over Canada in the quarterfinals.
Kevin Morano and Juan Perez led the way for Mexico with two hits apiece. They combined for three runs.
Scott Diamond threw seven innings of one-run ball in the losing effort, as the Canadian bullpen couldn't hold on. Andrew Romo's 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief earned him the win for Team Mexico.
Canada committed three errors in the game.
South Korea 7, Cuba 2
A five-run second helped propel South Korea to an easy victory over Cuba.
Euiji Yang had three hits, including the game's only home run. He scored two runs and drove in two. Byung Ho Park, Byung-hun Min and Sang-su Kim also had two hits.
The Cuban team used nine pitchers in the loss, with Miguel Betancourt tossing 4 2/3 innings of shutout ball in relief.
Japan 9, Puerto Rico 3
Team Japan scored six times in eight chances en route to a 9-3 quarterfinal victory over Puerto Rico.
Kenta Maeda, expected to be one of this offseason's hottest free-agent targets if/when he's posted by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Japan Central League, got the win for Japan.
Maeda threw seven innings of scoreless ball, striking out seven. The Carp are likely to post him once the Premier12 Tournament finishes.
Japanese shortstop Hayato Nakamoto and right fielder Nobuhiro Matsuda combined for four hits, three runs and five RBIs.
Joiset Rodriguez had three hits for Puerto Rico.