Australia Beat Czechia 5–1 as Czechs Are Forced to Face the Muzik -

The early “kick-off” saw two teams play their second game before 16 others had even started their tournament. Australia carried the confidence of yesterday’s win over Taiwan into today’s clash with Czechia.

Yet it was the Czechs who struck first. Martin Červenka scored on a Vojtěch Menšík sac fly, giving the travelling Czech fans something to celebrate after being shut out in their opener.

When I waffled on about my love of international baseball – especially European baseball – at the Rotterdam European Championship, I mentioned this…

In my mind, about 15% of routine plays to first base in European baseball get botched. In reality, it’s probably closer to 3%. But that’s still roughly double MLB’s rate, which means every routine play carries just a little extra peril – and a little extra excitement.

Case in point: a routine inning-ending double play in the third. Martin Muzik couldn’t handle the high throw to first, allowing Tim Kennelly to scamper to safety.

That proved to be the turning point.

Travis Bazzana, the hero of Game One against Taiwan, stepped up and worked a walk.

Two on. Two out.

Next came Curtis Mead. After tearing through the Rays’ stacked minor-league system, Mead looked set to light up the majors in 2023. It hasn’t quite happened. Across 152 big-league games over three seasons, he’s posted a -0.2 WAR, and with no minor-league options remaining, his roster spot is in jeopardy.

This tournament matters to Mead more than most.

After fouling off four pitches, Mead jumped on Thomas Ondra’s changeup and launched it into the left-field stands.

Three-run homer. Australia 3–1.

Australian manager Dave Nilsson again showed excellent pitcher management, pulling starter Josh Hendrickson before he reached 50 pitches, then spreading the final six innings across five relievers – all of whom delivered scoreless frames.

Czechia battled in what remained a tight game, but will rue going 0-for-8 RISP (with runners in scoring position).

That left everything hanging on the ninth.

As long as Czechia didn’t concede again, they would come to bat needing just three outs to mount a comeback.

The ball went to Ryan Johnson, Czechia’s Swiss Army knife – or, as he calls himself, the “Temu Ohtani.” Hit, pitch, relieve, start, DH… whatever the team needs.

What they needed was three quick outs.

What was delivered was an Alex Hall home run.

That’s Temu for you.

A Jarryd Dale triple and a Robbie Glendinning walk signalled the end of the day for Johnson, and Robbie Perkins’ single brought Dale home to make it 5–1.

There was no coming back from that.

FINAL SCORE: AUSTRALIA 5-1 CZECHIA

So, halfway through the pool stage, Czechia sit at 0–2 while Australia head into their two toughest matchups – Korea and Japan – with a shiny 2–0 record. That clash with Korea suddenly looks very tasty.

Before we get too carried away, though, remember that in the last WBC, Cuba, Italy, Panama, Taiwan, and the Netherlands all finished 2–2, with a tiebreaker needed to rank Pool A.

Czechia’s tournament isn’t over, but assuming they don’t spring a shock against Japan, their final game with Taiwan could decide whether everyone’s second-favourite team automatically qualifies for the next World Baseball Classic.

Featured image by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

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