Four pitchers carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning, and Robbie Perkins drove in four runs as No. 15-ranked Australia defeated the No. 12-ranked Dominican Republic 5-0 for its first win in the 2024 WBSC Premier12 Presented by RAXUS:
“I’m happy with how we played today,” Australia manager David Nilsson said. “I gave the ball to a veteran like Warwick [Saupold] to start the game; After his three entries, we continue with the pairings. “We shot well and played good defense.”
“What happened today is obvious,” said Dominican Republic manager César Martín. “Our batsmen were too anxious. Our batting order has not performed as we wanted in the last two games. We need to stay calm. There is nothing we can do to change what has already happened. We want to continue competing, even if we face Japan and Korea to finish the round.
Australia took the lead in the bottom of the third inning. Former Australian Baseball League (ABL) Most Valuable Player Alex Hall hit a triple to begin his at-bat. Catcher Robbie Perkins turned the third pitch he saw into a two-run homer to center field.
Vargas left the game and was replaced by Henry Henry with a runner on second base and one out. The right-hander closed the inning without allowing any more runs.
The Australians attacked Henry in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tim Kennelly walked, and Darryl George sent him to second with a single. After a visit from the coach, Perkins responded again, scoring Kennelly with a line drive to center field.
The Dominican Republic handed the ball to Dionys Rodríguez to get out of the inning.
Veteran major league pitcher Warwick Saupold went through his three innings without problems, allowing only one walk.
“I’m glad I was able to help the team,” Saupold said after the game. “Our defense helped me.”
“Day games are easier in some ways,” the veteran right-hander added. “You have breakfast, you get on the bus. I didn’t change my game day routine much and I came to the mound confident that I could show my ability.”
Veteran right-hander Sam Holland worked two perfect innings and left the game to make way for Luke Wilkins. The 14-year ABL veteran began the sixth inning with consecutive walks, forcing another call to the bullpen.
Coen Wynn got Australia out of trouble. He struck out Michael De León and forced Kelvin Gutiérrez to hit into a double play that ended the inning.
Australia added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. George led off with a single, and Hall advanced him to third with another hit. Perkins scored from third on a sacrifice fly, earning his fourth RBI of the night.
“I woke up this morning thinking every game from now on is important,” the Australian catcher said. “Japan is probably going to win this group undefeated. Today we came and left with a victory. We go day by day.”
Jorge Juan took the mound to lead the Dominican Republic out of the inning. Australia attacked him in the bottom of the seventh. Robbie Glendinning walked, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Tim Kennelly’s single.
The Dominican Republic broke Australia’s no-hitter with one out in the top of the eighth inning when Ricardo Cespedes singled off Jon Kennedy, Australia’s fifth pitcher. The left-hander needed five pitches to get out of the inning. Alen Hanson hit for an inning-ending double out on his fifth pitch.
Daniel McGrath pitched a perfect ninth inning to seal Australia’s victory.
“It’s just a lot of fun to win,” Perkins said as a final thought. “We’re doing it for the team, not for ourselves. It’s easier when the pitchers perform like they did today.”
Both teams will return to Taipei’s Tianmu Stadium on Saturday, November 16. Australia (1-1) will play Cuba (0-2) at 12 (local time), while the Dominican Republic (1-2) will face Korea (1-2).
