Japanese starter Tadashi Settsu continued his masterful pitching on Friday to lead Japan past Australia 3-0 in quarter-finals action at the 37th World Cup. Japan will play Cuba on Saturday with the winner advancing to the championship game.

Settsu, who entered the game with a 2-0 mark and an 0.56 ERA in 16 innings, blanked the Aussies for 5.2 innings giving up only five hits before handing the ball over to teammate Kohhei Hasebe who was equally impressive (3.1 IP, 2 H, 5K) while on the hill.

Japan scored the only run it would need to advance to the semi-finals in the top of the third when Hisayoshi Chono hit a Travis Blackley pitch over the left field wall for a 1-0 lead. Kanya Suzuki RBI single in the seventh provided Japan with an insurance run and Yasuyuki Saigo bases-loaded walk off Aussie reliever Dushan Ruzic in the ninth made the final outcome 3-0.

The Japanese outhit their Australian counterparts 11 to 7 and were led by Chono and Suzuki who both racked up three hits and an RBI apiece. No Aussie hitters managed more than a single hit.

Blackley, a Major Leaguer, did not pitch badly surrendering just one run, five hits, and three walks in 5.2 innings of work. Japan tagged relievers Brendan Wise and Tristan Crawford for a run each to derail Australia’s World Cup aspirations.

Tags: World Cup