The editor’s pick for “Game of the Day” for Day 1 of the 2016 WBSC Junior men’s world championship in Midland Michigan is the matchup between Argentina and Australia. Argentina is the two-time gold medal defending champion, with a current record of two wins and no losses, narrowly escaping defeat at the hands of the host USA team, with a 6-5 come-from-behind win while Australia is yet to play.
The matchup will feature what most oddsmakers tab as the top two teams in pool A and two of the top four teams in the world.
Argentina and Australia have garnered all of the gold medals for the past six competitions of the WBSC Junior men’s world championship.
Australia dominated the division for 16 years, winning gold in 1997, 2001, 2005, and 2008, while Argentina has won the last two, in 2012 and 2014. (The last team other than Argentina and Australia to win a gold medal in the Junior men’s division was Canada in 1993)
Japan is the only team to have medaled in the past five competitions, winning three silvers, and two bronze.
A close second for Game of the Day honors will be the 8 PM EDT/5 PM PDT game between the 2014 silver and bronze medalist, New Zealand and Japan respectively.
New Zealand defeated Canada yesterday 3-1, while Japan handled Israel easily in their opening-round matchup. Oddsmakers tabbed New Zealand and Japan as the top two teams in Pool B.
Dual-Threat Carries ARG Past AUS 9-1
Julian Fernandez came up big at the dish and in the circle, leading ARG to a 9-1 win over AUS on Monday at Field #2.Fernandez put himself in scoring position with two extra-base hits for ARG. He singled in the first inning, doubled in the second inning, and tripled in the third inning.
Fernandez struck out six, paving the way for a ARG win. Fernandez allowed one earned run, seven hits and no walks over five innings.
Nine runs in the first three innings helped ARG blow out AUS. An RBI single by Pablo Isa, a hit by pitch, and an RBI single by Enzo Ferrara in the first inning and an RBI single by Isa and an RBI single by Alejo Munoz during the second inning supplied the early offense for ARG.
ARG’s Fernandez, Isa and Teo Migliavacca combined for eight hits and six RBIs.
Christopher Gillies couldn’t get it done on the rubber for AUS, taking a loss. He lasted just 1 1/3 innings, walked none, struck out one, and allowed four runs.ARG scored four runs of its own in the third. ARG scored on A two-run triple by Fernandez, an RBI single by Migliavacca, and an RBI triple by Isa.
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