WBC roundup: Japan rolls into quarters; Taiwan, Puerto Rico win

Roki Sasaki struck out 8 and Japan won 10-2 against the Czech Republic in Saturday’s World Baseball Classic in Tokyo.

Sasaki was dominant and clocked 21 of his 66 pitches at or above 100 MPH according to the radar gun broadcast on TV.

Japan is now 3-0 in Pool A and will be guaranteed a place in the quarterfinals.

Sasaki, 21, threw on the 12th anniversary the earthquake and tsunami of 2011 that claimed the lives his grandparents and father.

Marek Chlup doubled to score in the first innings on a fielding mistake, giving the Czech Republic (1-1) the 1-0 lead.

Japan’s offense was kept off balance by Ondrej Saatoria’s diet consisting of off-speed pitches, and a fastball that never reached 80 mph, but finally scored three runs in the third.

Shohei Ohtani’s RBI double was a one-out RBI that scored four runs. Ohtani also stole the third base.

Satoria was able to score four strikes and leave with a memorably memorable souvenir. He fanned Ohtani who spun to the ground and lost its helmet.

Japan is able to win pool play with a perfect score of 4-0 by defeating Australia on Sunday.

Taiwan 9, Netherlands 5

Yu Chang launched a second inning grand slam, while Taiwan suffered its first loss in Pool A action at Taichung City.

Chieh-Hsien Chen drove in a run, doubled and tripled. Li Lin was 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Taiwan (2-1) never trailed after scoring five runs during the second inning.

Jurickson profar singled and scored on Didi Gregorius’ single to give the Netherlands (2-1), an 1-0 lead in their first innings. In the ninth inning Ray-Patrick Didder scored a solo homer.

Puerto Rico 9, Nicaragua 1

Marcus Stroman allowed one run in 4 1/3 innings. Christian Vazquez, MJ Melendez and Emmanuel Rivera each scored two runs. Puerto Rico won the opening game in Pool D play at Miami.

After recording the fifth inning’s final out, Nicholas Padilla won the game. Puerto Rico broke up a tie game by scoring five runs in the fifth inning when Melendez hit a two-run home run to center.

Elian Miranda scored a run for Nicaragua. JC Ramirez (0-1), on the other hand, was charged with four runs and three hits in the third inning.

–Field Level Media