Ohtani leads Japan over S. Korea

TOKYO – Shohei Ohtani doubled and singled for his second straight two-hit game, and Japan overcame a three-run deficit to beat South Korea 13-4 Friday night for its second straight win at the World Baseball Classic.

Ohtani was intentionally walked as Japan scored four runs in the third inning to take a 4-3 lead, doubled and scored in a two-run fifth and hit an RBI single in a five-run sixth.

The two-way star is 4 for 7 with two doubles, three RBIs and four walks in Japan’s two games while allowing one hit over four scoreless innings on the mound.

CUBA 13, PANAMA 4

TAICHUN, Taiwan – Yadir Drake had four hits, and Moncada and Roel Santos three each as Cuba (1-2) rebounded from a 6-3, 10-inning loss to Italy.

Winner Miguel Romero allowed two hits in three scoreless innings wth four strikeouts and no walks.

TAICHUNG, Taiwan – Kuo-Chen Fan broke a 7-7 tie with a run-scoring infield single in the seventh off Joey Marciano and Kungkuan Giljegiljaw hit a threerun homer in the eighth as host Taiwan (1-1) overcame a three-run deficit to notch the win.

Yu Chang hit a tying, two-run homer in the sixth off loser Stephen Woods Jr.

The Netherlands leads the group at 2-0 and Italy fell to 1-1.

CZECH REPUBLIC 8, CHINA 5

TOKYO – Martin Zervenka’s one-out walk off loser Hai-Cheng Gong in the ninth started the go-ahead rally as the Czechs overcame a 5-4 deficit.

After Martin Muzik’s homer put the Czechs ahead, Filip Smola added a runscoring single for the Czechs, who won their opener.

Winner Marek Minarik closed with 2 2/3 scoreless innings after Jin Yang’s RBI single off Michal Kovala capped a four-run seventh for China (0-2).