Philadelphia, Las Vegas roll in LLWS
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) Mo'ne Davis had a bloop RBI single in the first inning to became the sixth girl to get a hit in Little League World Series history, and her Philadelphia team rallied in the sixth inning to beat Pearland, Texas, 7-6 on Sunday night.
On Friday in Philadelphia's opener, Davis threw a two-hitter and struck out eight in a 4-0 victory over Nashville, Tennessee.
In the sixth inning against Pearland, Zion Spearman scored the winning run on shortstop Matt Adams' two-out throwing error to first base. Scott Bandura reached on a bunt leading off the inning. Two outs later, Spearman tied it with a line-drive triple into the left-center gap.
''We had a feeling,'' Philadelphia manager Alex Rice said. ''I feel badly for the young man who threw wide. ... We just felt good. There was no one who didn't think we were coming back.''
Pearland (1-1) had a four-run fifth to take a 6-3 lead. Cole Smajstrla hit a three-run home run and Layne Roblyer, who homered earlier, had an RBI single.
Spearman and Kai Cummings drove in runs in the bottom of the inning to cut it to 6-5.
Philadelphia will play Las Vegas on Wednesday night, with Davis expected to pitch again. Las Vegas also improved to 2-0 on Sunday, routing Chicago 13-2 in four innings.
On Monday, Pearland will play Lynnwood, Washington; and Chicago will meet Cumberland, Rhode Island.
In International play Sunday, South Korea and Japan each improved to 2-0. Seoul beat Humacao, Puerto Rico, 8-5; and Tokyo topped Guadalupe, Mexico 9-5.
Seoul will face Tokyo on Wednesday.
LAS VEGAS 13, CHICAGO 2, 4 INNINGS
Brad Stone hit a grand slam in the first inning and Las Vegas pounded the Jackie Robinson West team.
''The grand slam was a big momentum changer right out of the gate,'' Las Vegas manager Ashton Cave said. ''The ball started rolling, and the kids just jumped on the train and rode it out.''
Austin Kryszczuk homered twice, connecting in the second and fourth innings.
Zach Hare and Dominic Clayton also homered.
Las Vegas starter Brennan Holligan limited Chicago to two hits and struck out six.
Chicago's Pierce Jones, who hit three home runs Thursday against Lynnwood, was 0 for 2 with a walk.
''I've got some things to cheer them up,'' Chicago manager Darold Butler said. ''I kind of let them do what they want to do. ... I just let them be 12-year-old kids and have fun.''
SOUTH KOREA 8, PUERTO RICO 5
Jun Hyeok Yun stole home in the top of the sixth for the go-ahead run for Seoul.
Entering as pinch runner, Yun raced home after teammate Hae Chan Choi drew a throw to second base from catcher Jeremy Colon. Seoul added two runs, and Jae Yeong Kim pitched a perfect bottom half.
JAPAN 9, MEXICO 5
Shozo Kamata drove in two runs with pinch-hit single to give Tokyo the lead in the fifth inning.
With the game tied at 5, Kamata hit a slow ground ball up the middle that escaped the reach of Mexico's shortstop and second baseman and made the score 7-5. Japan added two more in the inning.