Ulises Ortiz cranked a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth, capping a five-run inning that allowed Mexico to earn a stunning 6-4 victory over Cuba on Tuesday at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Mexico entered its final round of at-bats trailing 4-1, but Antonio Guerrero blasted a three-run homer with two outs to tie the game. After Raul Hernandez Jr. was hit by a pitch, Ortiz went deep to left, bouncing Cuba from the tournament.
Alejandro Vazquez went 1-for-1 with a walk and two runs to help the Cubans build a 4-0 lead through four innings. Denis Zamora took the loss, yielding the five runs in the sixth, all of which were unearned.
Next up for Mexico on the International side of the elimination bracket is Venezuela.
Venezuela 2, Aruba 1
Jhonson Freitez drew a game-winning, bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the sixth as Venezuela eliminated Aruba in the Little League World Series.
Aruba of the Caribbean Region carried a 1-0 lead into the sixth on the strength of Nishant Toledo’s RBI single in the first. But Henry Kransen threw a wild pitch to let Joshua Duran score, and his walk with the bases loaded later brought in Simon Vicheria for the winning run.
Willian’s Mora and Jose Perez each pitched three innings for Barquisimeto, Venezuela, the Latin America Region champion, combining to strike out 10 batters while allowing only three hits.
Hawaii 3, Pennsylvania 1
Evan Tavares struck out 12 batters in 5 2/3 innings and Hawaii hung on to knock out Pennsylvania.
The team from Wailuku, Hawaii, stayed alive thanks to a two-run first inning and Tavares’ dominant pitching. Kanon Nakama drove in Gauge Pacheco, and Brextyn Kamaha’o Hong took home on a double steal.
Will Siveter drove in a run for Newtown, Penn., in the sixth inning before Nakama closed out the game with his only out, a strikeout. Hawaii will face the winner between Florida and New York in the next round of the U.S. elimination bracket.
Florida 6, New York 1
DeMarcos Mieses homered to lead Lake Mary, Fla., to a victory over Staten Island, N.Y., in an elimination game.
Lathan Norton threw three scoreless innings, striking out six, to seal the victory. Florida starter Garrett Rohozen tossed three innings of one-run ball, fanning five, to help his team advance to another elimination game on Wednesday against Wailuku, Hawaii.
Starting pitcher Stephen Grippo drove in the only run for New York. He threw 4 2/3 innings, yielding two runs (one earned) and striking out seven.
–Field Level Media
