Indonesia thrashes Malaysia 45-1 in one-sided game

Indonesia thrashes Malaysia 45-1 in one-sided game

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia walloped Malaysia 45-1 in a one-sided
game on the third day of the fourth Asian Cup Baseball
Championship at Bung Karno Baseball Stadium in Senayan, Central
Jakarta, on Tuesday.

Indonesia scored its first two runs of the first inning when
cleanup hitter Amri Syaiful spanked a double, sending home
Lukmanul Hakim from second and Ijang Lukman from first. Amri was
thrown out when he tried to stretch it into a triple.

The number seven batter, Adi Susanto, continued the onslaught
by driving in Anhar Rahman from third and Gunawan Pramono from
first.

With the bases loaded, Lukmanul worked the Malaysian pitcher
for a walk, sending Adi strolling home from third and giving
Indonesia a 5-0 lead.

Ijang followed by driving in Indra Gunawan from third and
Ferdian Surjaatmadja from second, making it 7-0.

With the bases juiced, Amri lumbered up to the plate and drove
the ball into the outfield for a double. The hit scored Lukmanul
from third, Ijang from second and Anhar from first, giving
Indonesia a 10-0 lead.

With a big lead, Amri stole third with Gunawan at the plate,
and then scored on a single by Gunawan. Adi followed by
delivering Indonesia's first four-bagger of the day, a two-run
blast that made it 13-0 and capped the scoring in the first.

Ijang scored Indonesia's first run of the second, coming home
on Gunawan's bases-loaded walk. With the bases still full, Adi
blasted a grand slam, sending Anhar, Amri and Gunawan home and
making it 18-0.

At 24-0 and with the bases loaded again, Yadi jacked one out
of the park for the second grand slam of the inning and a 28-0
lead.

Malaysia scored its only run of the game and its first run of
the championship thanks to Syayrizal Zainal Rashid, who stole
home with Zakaria Hamzah at the plate. That made the score 28-1
and brought a cheer from the crowd.

In the third inning, Jericho Gaffar drove in Ijang and Anhar
to make it 31-1. Adi plated Anhar for the final run of the
inning, making it 39-1.

Indonesia scored another six runs in the fourth, the last two
coming when Ijang drove in Heri Haeruman and Gunawan, making it
45-1.

Malaysia's Saravanan Subramaniam and Ahmad Ramzi Ahmad Zaini
struck out to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Syayrizal
followed with a single but was thrown out when he tried to steal
second with Ahmad Hafeez Hamdan at the plate.

Both teams agreed to end the game after the fourth inning,
even though the 15-run rule does not come into effect until after
the fifth inning.

"I am disappointed with the result but there was nothing we
could do. It was a tough game because Indonesia already has a
good foundation for baseball, while we don't," Malaysia's
Japanese head coach, Hirofumi Sakamoto, said after the game.

Indonesian head coach Rahmad Nasir said he did not expect the
game to be such a laugher.

"Malaysia is two levels below us. Their infielders made too
many errors on easy chances," he said.

Earlier, Hong Kong beat Uzbekistan 23-12 in the first game of
the championship to go the full nine innings.

Favorites Pakistan and Thailand then played a close game, with
Pakistan pulling out a 4-3 win.

Pakistan manager Khawar Shah told The Jakarta Post that it was
a hard-earned win. "Every team should pay attention to Thailand
for its good skills. Luckily, we could exploit their slow
pitchers by playing fast."

Thailand's manager Thanakij Heinghom said he was satisfied
with the result, saying his team played well.

Uzbekistan will play Malaysia, Hong Kong will challenge
Pakistan and Indonesia will meet Thailand on Wednesday. (nvn)