TAINAN, Taiwan - Powered by a stellar start on the mound from Tyler Early and a clutch home run off the bat of Leyland Henry, Team USA picked up a big victory over Korea at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) U-12 Baseball World Cup on Tuesday evening by a final score of 5-1.

Handed the ball to kick things off, Early showcased electric stuff throughout the entirety of the game. The tall lefty struck out nine opposing hitters during his 4.2 innings of work, the highest single-game total of the tournament so far, and he did so while allowing just a pair of singles and a lone earned run in his final frame of work.

Despite this effort, things remained in a scoreless tie throughout the first half of the ballgame, as Korea starter Jinwoong Lee managed to match Early's performance and kept the Team USA lineup searching for answers. The big breakthrough for the red, white, and blue came in the fourth inning, though, when Henry came up to the plate with two on and none out and demolished a hanging breaking ball for a go-ahead three-run homer that proved to be the difference in the game.

With the win, Team USA improved its record in the tournament to 3-1, avenging its loss from the night before and setting it up nicely headed into its final game of pool play on Wednesday against Czechia.

How It Happened

• The early goings of the game were devoid of any offense, as Early and Lee took turns putting zeroes up on the scoreboard through the first three innings. Korea had a few chances, stranding a runner on third two separate times during this stretch, while the Team USA bats were held off the basepaths competely throughout their first turn through the lineup.
• The stars and stripes finally drew first blood in the bottom of the fourth. After Nicholis Parker Jr. recorded the team's first hit and Early was hit by a pitch to put a pair on, Henry unloaded for a titanic three-run home run to give Team USA control of the game.
• Korea jumped on the board in the top of the fifth, scoring its first run of the game on a balk by Early to cut the lead down to 3-1.
• Team USA responded to this in quick order, putting up two in the bottom half of the frame on a perfectly executed squeeze play by Parker Jr. and a bases-loaded walk by Zaylon Johnson.
• Paris Head locked down the save on the mound in the last inning, aided by an unbelievable diving catch in right field by Early for the final out of the game.

Of Note

• With the win, Team USA moved into a three-way tie with Korea and the Dominican Republic atop Group B.
• Early's nine strikeouts set a new single-game 12U National Team record, besting his own previous high of eight achieved during the World Cup Americas Qualifier back in May.
• Henry's three RBIs on the day brought him up to a total of nine for the tournament, trailing only Raiyer Gonzalez of the Dominican Republic among all active players.
• Trailing just behind him is Johnson, who picked up his eighth with his bases-loaded walk in the fifth inning.

On Deck

Team USA closes out pool play on Wednesday, squaring off against Czechia in a makeup of last Friday's postponement. The game is set to begin at 2:30 P.M. local time/2:30 A.M. ET.