In one of the most exciting games of the 2019 World Baseball Softball Confederation Premier12 so far, Cuba defeated Australia 3-2 in 10 innings from the Gocheok Skydome in Seoul, South Korea on Thursday. This was the only game of the tournament so far that has gone into extra innings. With the win, Cuba improved to a record of one win and one loss, while Australia fell to zero wins and two losses.
A major turning point in the game came in the first inning. Australia had an opportunity to take the early lead but failed to do so. They had the bases loaded and nobody out, but then Mitchell Nilsson struck out, Aaron Whitfield flew out and Timothy Kennelly was out at home plate trying to score on the sacrifice fly.
Cuba scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on a RBI single by Yordanis Samon and on a fielder’s choice by Yosvany Alarcon. Australia then tied it at two runs apiece in the top of the sixth inning on a home run by Kennelly and then a RBI single by Wade. There would be no more scoring until the 10th inning when Yurisbel Gracial had a game winning sacrifice fly to center field that scored Alarcon.
Cuba is currently in third place in Group C, behind South Korea and Canada. South Korea defeated Canada 3-1 on Thursday. South Korea leads the group with a record of two wins and zero losses. Canada also has a record of one win and one loss, but is in second place because they beat Cuba 3-0 on Wednesday. On Friday, Cuba plays South Korea and Canada plays Australia.
For first place in Group B, Japan beat Chinese Taipei 8-1 at the Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium. Japan improved to 3-0 and Chinese Taipei dropped to 2-1. Both Japan and Chinese Taipei had already advanced to the Super Round prior to their Group B game.
