Playoffs race heating up on Men’s Softball World Championship’s day 4
Teams take the field on Sunday trying to get in a good position in the playoffs race. You can find all the information about the event, including full articles, photo galleries, boxscores, stats, standings and rosters at the tournament’s microsite.
Cuba 6-0 Botswana
Roger Rosete blasted two solo home runs today in Havlickuv Brod to lead Cuba to a 6-0 victory over Botswana, in a key match for Group A. Alain Roman and Alberto Hernandez combined for the shutout as Cuba improves to 2-1 in the standings.
Whit this score, Cuba remains in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs, with a 2-1 record, and tomorrow they will play Mexico, at 10:30, in Svoboda Park. Immediately after this game Botswana -who dropped to 1-2-, will take on the world champions, New Zealand.
Singapore 0-13 Netherlands
The Netherlands scored multiple runs in his three at-bats to clinch its first win of the event against Singapore in Group B. An 8-run third lifted the European team to a 13-0 victory in four innings of play.
Jeroen Mulder pitched four innings of 2 hits and 1 walk for the shutout, while Jun Tan was charged with the loss in 2 innings of work.
Venezuela 1-0 Denmark
Venezuelan left-hander Erick Urbaneja pitched an 8-inning no-hitter in a 1-0 victory over Denmark, for the Group B of the Men’s Softball World Championship in Svoboda Park. For the losing team, Kim Hansen did a terrific job from the circle, but didn’t receive support from his offence and was charged with his first loss of the event.
Urbaneja was untouchable this afternoon, changing speeds and painting the corners. He only allowed 3 walks and fanned 6 in a brilliant performance. His counterpart was also magnificent; he only surrendered an unearned run, on the tie-breaking rule. The powerful right-hander fanned 14 Venezuelans and allowed only 4 hits.
Argentina 15-0 Philippines
Argentina collected today its second win of the tournament after a comfortable five-innings victory over Singapore, 15-0. Left fielder Mariano Montero hit a grand slam in a 6-run second inning, while Alan Peker belted a 3-run blast in the fifth. Gustavo Godoy also homered for the South Americans.
New Zealand 4-5 Mexico
Mexico clinched today a historic come back to upset the defending world champions, New Zealand, by a score of 5-4 in eight innings. Trailing by three runs entering the bottom of the seventh, Mexico scored three runs off Black Sox’s reliever Nick Hayes to tie the game and send it to extras. One inning later, an RBI single by Marco Antonio Gonzalez completed the come-from-behind win.
United States 8-1 South Africa
United States will sleep tonight with a positive record in Group B after a solid win, 8-1, over South Africa in five innings. The North American used two big innings to put the game safely out of reach.
The only run for South Africa was a solo home run by designated player Mogau Thupudi to left field.
Australia 1-4 Canada
Derek Mayson hit a 3-run home run to support a 2-hit, 10-strikeout performance by ace Sean Cleary to give Canada a key victory over Australia, 4-1, and remain undefeated in Group B after three games. Svoboda Park in Prague was the stage of one of the most expected games of the group’s stage.
Sean Cleary went the distance with 102 pitches, he allowed only 2 hits and 1 run, struck out 10 and walked 2.
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