Netherlands and Australia add victories in the World Classic

Dutch outfielder Roger Bernadina throws the ball during a World Baseball Classic Group A match against Panama, at Taichung Intercontinental Stadium, in Taichung, Taiwan, on March 9, 2023. (AP Photo/I-Hwa Cheng)

TOKYO (AP) — The Netherlands added their second victory in two days in Group A of the World Baseball Classic after beating Panama 3-1 in Taiwan on Thursday.

Xander Bogaerts opened the scoring for the Dutch with a home run in the third inning and Jurickson Profar extended the lead with a one-run shot in the fifth.

Erasmo Caballero closed the gap for Panama with a single in the sixth that drove in José Ramos and made it 2-1 on the scoreboard.

The Netherlands sealed the win two innings later when Bogaerts scored on Alberto Baldonado’s wild pitch.

In Pool B, Robbie Perkins hit one of Australia’s three home runs in an 8-7 win over South Korea at the Tokyo Dome.

Leading 5-4 going into the top of the eighth, Australia pulled away on Perkins’ three-run homer off Hyeon-Jong Yang, who had come on in relief that inning and had just seven pitches. no outs.

Australia went up 2-0 in the fifth, but South Korea took the lead in the bottom of the fifth on Euiji Yang’s three-run home run to left field.

The South Koreans scored again in the sixth, but Australia came to the plate three times in the seventh, including a three-run shot by Robbie Glendinning, to take control of the game.

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