SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) Daniel Zaragoza singled home Raul Leon in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Mexico a 1-0 victory over Canada in their opening game Friday in the Little League World Series.
Leon led off with a triple to right and Leon singled in the next at-bat, leaving Canada starting pitcher Matthew Wilkinson with a no-decision.
Wilkinson struck out 16 before leaving at the 85-pitch limit after five innings.
Mexico reached base six times off Wilkinson, twice on walks, twice on hits, one hit batsman, and one dropped third strike in the fifth that allowed the extra strikeout situation.
Zaragoza also pitched five shutout innings, striking out 10 and allowing three hits.
Mexico advanced to the winner's bracket and will play the winner of Friday night's Japan-Taiwan game, while Canada will face the loser.
