USA dominate Mexico, earn second win by run-difference rule
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<p>World No. 4 USA improved to 2-0 in the Women's Baseball World Cup Finals with an <a href="https://www.wbsc.org/en/events/2024-ix-womens-baseball-world-cup-finals/schedule-and-results/box-score/131784#inning-3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="11-1 (opens in a new tab)">11-1</a> win in six innings against No. 5 Mexico. The US scored early, and their offence dominated three Mexican pitchers with 13 hits. Remi Schaber went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. The US pitching proved solid. Starter Kelsie Whitmore and reliever Jamie Baum allowed only two hits.</p>
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<p>Despite loading the bases on a pair of walks and an error, USA starter Kelsie Whitmore struck out the side in the top of the first.</p>
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<p>Mexican starter Flor Valerio hit Alex Hugo with one out in the bottom of the first. The 2023 Group A MVP advanced on a balk and reached third on a passed ball. Naomi Ryan singled through the right side to give the US the lead. Olivia Pichardo singled to bring her to second, but the inning ended when Remi Schaber lined into a double play.</p>
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<p>Hugo walked to lead off the bottom of the third. She advanced to second on a wild pitch and reached third on Olivia Pichardo's one-out single. Remi Schaber followed with an RBI single to extend the US lead to 2-0. Valerio walked Jillian Albayati, and a towering pop by Anna Kimbrell to shallow left field turned into a two-RBI double.</p>
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<p>Mexico got on the board in the top of the fourth. Dani Leal reached on a double to deep centre field and scored on a two-out RBI single by Marcela Diaz. They wouldn't get another hit.</p>
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<p>Ashton Lansdell led off the botton half of the frame with a single to left field. She stole second. Valerio struck out Hugo, intentionally walked Ryan, and got Olivia Pichardo looking at the third strike. After a coaching visit, Schaber singled on the first pitch she saw to score Lansdell from second. </p>
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<p>Valerio walked the bases loaded and left for Maria Valenzuela. Valeria Rodriguez replaced Valenzuela in right field. Valerie Perez worked the count to 3-1, then singled up the middle to extend USA lead to 7-1.</p>
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<p>Jamie Baum relieved Whitmore in the top of the fifth. </p>
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<p>The US scored four runs to end the game in the bottom of the sixth. Schaber hit a two-RBI single off Dafne Mejia, the third Mexican pitcher. She scored the tenth run on Albayati's sacrifice fly, and the game ended for the run-difference rule on a wild pitch.</p>
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<p>On Tuesday, 30 July, the US (2-0) will face No. 7 Canada at 19:00. Mexico (0-2 and facing elimination) will play against No. 2 Chinese Taipei at 10:00. All times local.</p>
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