United States took this afternoon an important win over New Zealand by 5-4, and tomorrow night will play against Australia in the last game of round robin, to define the first place in Group A. Â Meanwhile, Mexico beat Croatia 14-0 in three and a half innings, and is pressure on pool B. Tonight, in the last game of the day, will play against Argentina.
USA went ahead in the first inning with two runs, and placed third in the second. Only in the fourth episode New Zealand reacted and scored two, to make it 2-3. The winner answered with two more in the sixth, and could hold up the lead when the Blacks Sox scored two in the top of the seventh.
Jerlin Rutt pitched the complete game and was the winner with 7 hits, 4 runs, 1 walks and 1 strikeout. Ben Watts was the loser in 6.0 innings, allowing 7 hits, 5 runs, 1 walk and 4 strikeouts.
Earlier, Mexico had no problem to beat Croatia, in three and a half episodes. With three runs in the first, five in the second and six in the third, closed the score and blanked the Europeans.
