Day five at the inaugural Premier12 featured six more games of the first round in Taiwan. Canada and Japan improved to 3-0 in two hard-fought games as the lone undefeated teams remaining in the tournament. Canada downed host Chinese Taipei 9-8 in a thriller, which included several lead changes, game-tying home runs and a crucial assisted fly out in center field to end a rally in the eighth. Japan meanwhile saw a 2-0 lead vanish within one swing, but still was able to prevail 4-2 over the still winless Dominican Republic in a meeting of World Baseball Classic champions.

In Pool A Puerto Rico and Cuba also squared off in a close game, which saw extra innings for the first time in the event. Puerto Rico erased a five-run deficit in the ninth, before Cuba still got an 8-7 win in the tenth when the fielder got pulled off the bag at first base during a double play attempt. The other Pool A matchup saw the Netherlands crush Italy 16-1 in seven innings thanks to the heroics of Randolph Oduber and Curt Smith, who combined for nine hits. It was a demonstration by the Dutch, which also took advantage of some early defensive miscues by Italy. Smith, Kalian Sams and Dashenko Ricardo hit home runs.

In Pool B South Korea had provided the first mercy rule shortened win of the tournament, when they beat Venezuela 13-2. They now have scored 23 runs within a span of nine innings in the last two games. Jae Gyun Hwang hit a pair of home runs. Also Team USA ended their game earlier as scheduled, as they defeated Mexico 10-0 in eight innings. Matt McBride led the way, going 5-for-5 and three RBI. The United States and South Korea improved to 2-1 for the tournament, while Mexico and Venezuela dropped to 1-2 each.

The Premier12 continues on Saturday after an official rest day on Friday. The game day will be highlighted by a couple of new chapters in longtime rivalries. In the afternoon the Dominican Republic faces Venezuela in Taoyuan. In the evening, also in Taoyuan, Japan clashes with Team USA in a meeting between number one and two in the world. In Taichung Cuba takes on Chinese Taipei in a crucial matchup for the host. Additionally Italy faces Canada in Dou-Liou, the Netherlands square off against Puerto Rico in the afternoon in Taichung and South Korea plays against Mexico in Taipei City.

Schedule, Results and Recaps of Premier 12:

Sunday, November 8, 2015:

Japan – South Korea 5-0 Recap

Monday, November 9, 2015:

Chinese Taipei – Netherlands 4-7 Recap

Tuesday, November 10, 2015:

Venezuela – Mexico 4-6 Recap

Puerto Rico – Italy 7-1 Recap

USA – Dominican Republic 11-5 Recap

Cuba – Canada 1-5 Recap

Wednesday, November 11, 2015:

USA – Venezuela 5-7 Recap

Netherlands – Cuba 5-6 Recap

Dominican Republic – South Korea 1-10 Recap

Japan – Mexico 6-5 Recap

Canada – Puerto Rico 2-0 Recap

Italy – Chinese Taipei 1-7 Recap

Thursday, November 12, 2015:

South Korea – Venezuela 13-2 (7) Recap

Cuba – Puerto Rico 8-7 (10) Recap

Mexico – USA 0-10 (8) Recap

Dominican Republic – Japan 2-4 Recap

Italy – Netherlands 1-16 (7) Recap

Chinese Taipei – Canada 8-9 Recap

Saturday, November 14, 2015:

12:05 Venezuela – Dominican Republic

12:35 Netherlands – Puerto Rico

18:00 Mexico – South Korea

18:08 USA – Japan

18:35 Canada – Italy

18:35 Chinese Taipei – Cuba

Sunday, November 15, 2015:

12:05 Dominican Republic – Mexico

12:35 Puerto Rico – Chinese Taipei

18:00 South Korea – USA

18:08 Japan – Venezuela

18:35 Cuba – Italy

18:35 Netherlands – Canada

Standings:

Pool A

1) Canada 3-0

2) Cuba 2-1

3) Netherlands 2-1

4) Puerto Rico 1-2

4) Chinese Taipei 1-2

6) Italy 0-3

Pool B

1) Japan 3-0

2) USA 2-1

2) South Korea 2-1

4) Mexico 1-2

5) Venezuela 1-2

6) Dominican Republic 0-3

Photo by Ezio Ratti, FIBS