TAINAN, Taiwan – Levi Kerr tossed a complete-game shutout and Cristian Matos and Dylan Mercado each homered as the 12U National Team defeated the Dominican Republic, 10-0, in pool play action at the VI World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-12 Baseball World Cup on Sunday morning at Asia-Pacific Main Stadium.
With the win, the U.S. secures its spot in the VI WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup Super Round.
After grabbing a quick lead and blanking the Dominican Republic offense in the first five innings, Team USA’s offense exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull away and win. Dylan Mercado’s three-run homer helped the U.S. blow the game open in the fifth, and RBIs by Jonah Saken and Colin Anderson put the finishing touches on the victory.
Team USA’s offense got off to a hot start for the third straight day, scoring in the first inning on an RBI double by Colin Anderson. Then, with the U.S. up by just one run in the third, Cristian Matos hit a two-run blast to right field as the stars and stripes got some breathing room before the seven-run fifth.
Levi Kerr was dominant from start to finish for Team USA, earning the win with a complete-game shutout. After walking the first two batters he faced, Kerr allowed just four more baserunners for the remainder of the game and coaxed two massive double plays to keep the Dominican Republic off the scoreboard.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Dominican Republic had an immediate scoring opportunity in the top of the first, putting its first two runners on with nobody out. But Levi Kerr escaped the jam, sandwiching a groundout between a pair of strikeouts to keep the game scoreless.
- The U.S. struck for a run in the first inning for the third consecutive game when Jonah Saken led off the inning with a walk and came around to score on Colin Anderson’s two-out double to give Team USA a 1-0 lead.
- The United States loaded the bases in its half of the second inning but Dominican Republic pitcher Marlon Polanco got two big outs to keep the score at 1-0.
- With two outs in the bottom of the third, Anthony Frausto singled before Cristian Matos worked an eight-pitch at-bat that resulted in a two-run homer into the trees in right field, giving Team USA a 3-0 edge.
- Down by three in the top of the fifth, the Dominican Republic notched its second hit of the day but it was immediately erased when Levi Kerr induced a 1-4-3 double play.
- After back-to-back singles by Anthony Frausto and Cristian Matos to lead off the bottom of the fifth, Dylan Mercado clubbed a three-run homer to center field to make it 6-0 in favor of the U.S.
- Tristin Gaines singled and scored on an RBI double by Jonah Saken as the stars and stripes’ lead became 7-0 in the fifth.
- Team USA clinched the win in the fifth when Jonah Saken and Jordan Leon scored on wild pitches before Colin Anderson plated a run on a groundout to give the U.S. the 10-0 victory.
OF NOTE
- The win was Team USA’s second shutout victory of the VI WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup (24-0 over Czech Republic on Friday).
- With another first-inning run on Sunday, the U.S. has now scored 18 first-inning runs through three tournament games.
- Sunday’s game was the first all-time matchup at the U-12 level between the United States and the Dominican Republic.
- Dylan Mercado (3), Colin Anderson (2), and Cristian Matos (2) combined for seven of Team USA’s eight RBIs in the game.
- After each picking up at least one hit on Sunday, Anthony Frausto and Jonah Saken are tied for the team lead with a .750 batting average (6-for-8).
- The stars and stripes lead the VI WBSC U-12 Baseball World Cup in most offensive categories, including runs (55) and homers (12).
- The U.S. remains atop the Group B standings at 3-0. Korea (1-0), Japan (0-1), the Dominican Republic (0-1), and the Czech Republic (0-2) round out the standings.
ON DECK
Team USA has the day off on Monday before taking on Korea in its final pool play game on Tuesday, August 2, at 2:30 p.m. local/2:30 a.m. ET.
SOCIAL
Stay tuned to @USABaseball12U on Twitter for the most up-to-date news about the 2022 12U National Team.
