Japan won a vital game this morning, in the fight for the first places of Pool B, defeating Canada 3-0 in extra inning. Meanwhile, moments ago Venezuela defeated India 4-0 and maintains his possibilities in Pool A.
On the first game of the day, Japan and Canada played a very close game, dominated by pitchers and with some interesting alternatives
Kento Okazaki was the winning pitcher, working the complete game (eight innings), as well as the Canadian starter, Michael Lagace-Roote. The Japanese threw a gem, with 20 Ks, no walks, and allowing only four hits. Canadian pitcher suffered six hits, walked three and struck out 13, receiving 3 runs in the eighth inning, with the tie breaking rule.
In the top of the eighth, Japan brought the first run from second, and after that took two security runs with an RBI triple and a defensive error. Okazaki sealed his great performance with two strikeouts.
In the second game of the day, Venezuela scored four runs in the top of the first inning, and that was all the offensive they need to take the win. That inning was the only one for the starter and loser pitcher for India, Gurpreet Singh, who allowed 3 hits and gave a base on balls, receiving all the four races.
For the winner, Ermison Machado and Yoangel Romero combined for the shutout. Machado pitched 4.0 innings with 1 hit and 2 walks, and Romero threw 3.0 episodes, allowing just 1 hit and striking out five.
Now play Singapore and Denmark, at 5 pm Mexico and Czech Republic, at 6 pm United States and Venezuela and in the night game the clash between the giants of Oceania, New Zealand against Australia.
Editor’s note: The Japan-Canada game featured the bronze and silver medalists from 2008, respectively. Canada has now lost two, including a tough 1-0 game to host Argentina. The top four teams from each of the two pools advance to the playoff round, so Canada could still take the #3 spot in its pool if they beat Mexico on Wednesday.
(The British Virgin Island team did not show for the tournament). The latest postings to the official tournament website shows Argentina 4-0, USA 4-0 (games with AUS and NZ remaining) Japan 4-1 (the one loss to Argentina), Australia and New Zealand 3-0 and playing each other today, and Mexico 2-1.
Within the pools, Pool A appears to be shaping up to send USA, AUS, New Zealand and one more team to the playoff round, while Argentina is in command of Pool B, having beaten both Canada and Japan. Japan at 4-1 has locked up a spot, with Canada and Mexico the other likely entrants.
The number of teams in the playoff round in ISF play is determined by the number of teams in the tournament. In 2008 at Whitehorse, there were 12 teams, so just four qualified. With eight teams, the battle for medals is still wide open.