MBSC: Japan Over Mexico 6x-5 in a Close Game

World baseball WBSC premiere 12 offered a dramatic game November 11 at Tianmu, Taiwan, between Japan and Mexico. Japan arrived in Taiwan with 1 win to its credit over South Korea ready to face Mexico with its 1 over Venezuela.

Manager Kokubo of Samurai Japan sent Kenta Maeda to the mound, sure to lead the game his way. A sign of turbulence came at the top of the 2nd inning when Lopez slammed a solo homer to the left stands. That one point in the early inning might have set the entire path of the game if it had not been for a reversal 2-run homer belted into the left stands by Sho Nakata in the bottom of that inning.

Japan scored 3 points in the 3rd and 5th innings as if to cinch the game for the night with a 2-point lead. 

Mexico, however, had a bit of fancy ball plays in store at the top of the 7th inning. Lopez stole a hit to the center and advanced to the second base by a cool drug bunt by Kevin Medrano. With runners in the first and second bases, Mexico attempted and succeeded in a delicious sacrifice bunt to fill up the bases. Torres hit into a double play but scored a run (5-4).

The development in the 7th inning cheered up Mexicans enough to drive in one more crucial point to tie up the score 5-5. At that point, Mexico was morally outplaying Japan.

Mexico sent Alexander to the mound to survive the inning to renew offensive at the top of the10th inning. Their plan was sensible, but the game didn't develop as they had figured. Yamada hit to the right to reach the first base as a winning runner. Nakamura struck out swinging.

Then, came the final drama.

Tsutsugo who had had three hits to his credit that night was intentionally walked. Mexico risked having Nakata at bat, knowing he had hit a homer to reverse the score 2-1  earlier in the game. Mexico's bet did not pay off. Nakata hit into the center to score in the closing one point to cinch the game 6-5.

Quite a game it was.