LAS VEGAS 8, PHILADELPHIA 1
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Dallan Cave and Brennan Holligan hit two-run home runs, left-handed reliever Austin Kryszczuk worked out of two jams, and Las Vegas beat Philadelphia and star pitcher Mo'ne Davis 8-1 in the Little League World Series on Wednesday night.
That puts Las Vegas in Saturday's U.S. title game and sends Philadelphia into an elimination game tonight against Chicago's Jackie Robinson team. The Great Lakes champion beat Pearland, Texas, 6-1 on Tuesday night in an elimination game.
Davis, the darling of the Little League World Series, was masterful and ordinary on a night made short because of pitch-count rules. She allowed 3 runs and 6 hits and struck out 6 in 2 1/3 innings before leaving after 55 pitches. That makes her eligible to pitch again in the U.S. championship game Saturday.
Davis played first after her stint on the mound and was switched to right field in the top of the sixth.
The 5-foot-4 Davis tries to use the first two innings to get to know the home plate umpire's strike zone, and the first time through the order gauges where the opposing players don't like the ball.
It worked like a charm in her first outing in the World Series as she pitched a two-hit shutout. She didn't get that chance on this night against hard-hitting Las Vegas, which had outscored its first two opponents 25-4.
Davis allowed hits to the first two batters as Philadelphia fell behind. Leadoff hitter Zach Hare lofted a soft single to center and Kryszczuk followed with a resounding triple to right center for a 1-0 lead.
Unfazed, Davis struck out the side, getting Holligan looking and Brad Stone and Andrew Matulich swinging.
Philadelphia threatened in the bottom of the first, but Las Vegas right fielder Alex Barker made a dazzling diving catch at the warning track of a drive by Jack Rice to end the inning and strand two Philly runners.
After reaching back for something extra to get out of that first-inning jam, Davis sputtered again. Cave slammed a two-run shot to left-center, a liner that just cleared the fence for a 3-0 lead.
Josiah Cromwick and Hare followed with singles, but Davis settled down again and struck out Kryszczuk swinging and Holligan looking again.
She left in the top of the third in favor of lefty Erik Lipson, but she wasn't through competing. After falling behind 0-2 in the count in her second at-bat, Davis worked a walk with runners at second and third and Zion Spearman scored when the fourth ball bounded away from the catcher.
SOUTH KOREA 4, JAPAN 2
Jae Yeong Hwang came through when his team needed him. Hwang's go-ahead solo home run in the sixth led South Korea past Japan.
South Korea advanced to the International Championship game. Japan will face Mexico today to determine South Korea's opponent on Saturday.
Entering the sixth inning, South Korea and Japan were tied at 2-2. Both teams scored twice in the third inning.
Hwang took relief pitcher Suguru Kanamori's 1-2 pitch deep to right field, breaking the tie and giving South Korea a 3-2 lead.
Three batters later, Dong Wan Sin took Kanamori's pitch to center for an RBI double to score Dong Hwan Ahn.
Early on, both teams scored on each other's ace pitchers.
Sports on 08/21/2014