PR falls 3-0 to host Japan, but advances to super round of U-18 World Cup

Allem Borrero took the loss after going two and a third innings with one run allowed.

By THE STAR STAFF

Puerto Rico’s U-18 national team lost 3-0 to Japan on Wednesday at Nishizaki Stadium in Okinawa, closing out the preliminary phase of the World Baseball Softball Confederation U-18 Baseball World Cup with a record of three wins and two losses, good enough to secure a spot in the tournament’s super round.

“The team has been playing good defense, which was what we lacked against Japan,” Team Puerto Rico manager Eddie González said at a press conference. “The pitching has done an exceptional job. We are among the top teams in ERA and strikeouts. We continue to adjust our offense day by day.”

The home team combined Raito Okumura, Saku Hayase and Ikki Nishimura on the mound to limit the Puerto Rican offense. Hayase earned the win in relief, and Allem Borrero took the loss after going two and a third innings with one run allowed.

Japan scored its first run in the second inning with two outs, when Shintaro Sakamoto bunted to third and Yu Yokoyama scored from second. The second run came in the sixth inning after a defensive error, and the third on a wild pitch in the seventh.

“Now it’s time to lift our heads, regroup, come together as a team, rest, and prepare to go all out for the super round,” González added.

After a short rest, Puerto Rico was slated to open the super round against Panama today at 9:30 p.m. (Puerto Rico time) in Okinawa.