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Defending champion Japan secured its place in the four-team Super Round of the Premier12 tournament with a 7-6 victory over Cuba on Sunday.
The win at a rain-soaked Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium improved Japan’s opening-round record to 4-0 and eliminated powerhouse Cuba (1-3) with one game left for each team in Group B.
Japan’s Ryoya Kurihara hits a decisive sacrifice fly off Cuba’s Livan Moinelo in the eighth inning of their Premier12 opening-round game at Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium on Nov. 17, 2024. (Kyodo)
Japan’s Ryoya Kurihara broke a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning with a sacrifice fly off his SoftBank Hawks teammate Livan Moinelo, who worked three innings as Cuba’s sixth pitcher of the night.
Japan’s starting pitcher Takahisa Hayakawa throws against Cuba in a Group B game at the Premier12 baseball tournament on Nov. 17, 2024, in Taipei. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The young Samurai Japan team, whose average age is 25.7, had a 5-1 lead after five innings.
But Cuba battled back to pull within one in a three-run sixth and tied the game at 6 in the seventh.
Japanese shortstop Sosuke Genda (C) turns a double play in the third inning against Cuba in their Premier12 opening-round game at Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium on Nov. 17, 2024. (Kyodo)
In the ninth, the Cubans loaded the bases with one out, only for Japanese reliever Shoma Fujihira to strike out Yoan Moncada and Andi Cosme.
Venezuela and the United States have also advanced to the Super Round beginning Thursday at Tokyo Dome by finishing first and second in Group A in Mexico, respectively.
The final and third-place game will be played on Nov. 24, also at Tokyo Dome.
Japan’s Keita Sano hits an RBI single in the second inning against Cuba in their Premier12 opening-round game at Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium on Nov. 17, 2024. (Kyodo)
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Baseball: Japan beats Taiwan for sole lead in Premier12 group
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Baseball: Japan wins Premier12 group opener vs. Australia