Australia managed to get the best of Czechia in Tokyo for its second win in as many days to start the World Baseball Classic.
Curtis Mead broke the game open with a home run that gave Australia a 3-1 lead in the third inning.
Australia added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth, after Alex Hall and Jarryd Dale both scored.
Australia produced nine hits in the game, while Czechia produced four. Coen Wynne was tabbed as the winning pitcher.
Wynne allowed just one hit in two innings pitched. Starting pitcher Josh Hendrickson allowed two hits, an earned run and a walk. He struck out two during his three innings pitched.
Check out the top moments from the Australia-Czechia game:
Final: Australia 5, Czechia 1
Alex Hall added an insurance run with a solo home run in the top of the ninth to increase Australia’s lead to 4-1.
Robbie Perkins singled on a pop-up to right field, bringing in Jarryd Dale to score. Australia now leads the game 5-1.
Australia leads Czechia after seven innings
Australia still leads Czechia 3-1 after 6½ innings of play.
Czechia has leaned on Tomáš Ondra and Ondrej Satoria on the mound throughout the game. The duo has allowed four hits, three earned runs and two walks in seven combined innings pitched. They have struck out five total batters.
Ky Hampton entered the game to start the bottom of the seventh for Australia.
Australia has used three other pitchers during the game, including Josh Hendrickson. Hendrickson allowed two hits, an earned run and a walk. He struck out two during three innings pitched.
What do Czechia baseball players do for a living?
Czechia is well represented on one of the biggest stages in baseball, but most of its players spend the majority of the year working a ‘normal’ job. Here’s what they do.
Curtis Mead helps Australia jump ahead
Curtis Mead hits a home run to left center field to give Australia a 3-1 lead in the top of the third inning.
Martin Červenka provides Czechia with early lead
Martin Červenka scored the first run of the game, giving Czechia the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Vojtech Mensik’s sacrifice fly to center field provided Červenka with the opportunity to score from third.
Czechia and Australia scoreless early
Australia and Czechia were scoreless through the first inning of play. Martin Červenka produced the first hit of the game for a double in the second inning against Josh Hendrickson.
Czechia’s starting lineup vs. Australia
DH – Milan Prokop
3B – Martin Červinka
SS – Terrin Vavra
C – Martin Červenka
CF – Marek Chlup
1B – Martin Mužík
2B – Vojtěch Menšík
LF – William Escala
RF – Max Prejda
Australia’s starting lineup vs. Czechia
2B – Travis Bazzana
3B – Curtis Mead
CF – Aaron Whitefield
DH – Alex Hall
SS – Jarryd Dale
1B – Rixon Wingrove
C – Robbie Perkins
LF – Chris Burke
RF – Tim Kennelly
Who is Australia’s WBC starting pitcher vs. Czechia?
Josh Henderickson will serve as the starting pitcher for the Australian team. He spent some time playing at the minor league level but never played in an MLB game. He was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 28th round of the 2019 MLB draft from the University of San Diego.
Who is Czechia’s WBC starting pitcher vs. Australia?
Tomas Ondra will serve as the starting pitcher for Czechia on Thursday against Australia.
How to watch Australia vs. Czechia: WBC TV channel, stream
- Time: 10 p.m. ET
- Location: Tokyo Dome
- TV: FS1
- Streaming: FOX One App
Stream the World Baseball Classic on Fubo
Australia WBC roster
Pitchers
- Kieren Hall, Ky Hampton, Josh Hendrickson, Sam Holland, Jon Kennedy, Connor MacDonald, Cooper Morgan, Mitch Neunborn, Jack O’Loughlin, Warwick Saupold, Blake Townsend, Todd Van Steensel, Alex Wells, Lachlan Wells, Coen Wynne
Catchers
- Mitchell Edwards, Alex Hall, Robbie Perkins
Infielders
- Travis Bazzana, George Callil, Jarryd Dale, Robbie Glendinning, Curtis Mead, Logan Wade, Rixon Wingrove
Outfielders
- Ulrich Bojarski, Chris Burke, Max Durrington, Tim Kennelly, Aaron Whitefield
Czechia WBC roster
Pitchers
- Jeff Barto, Filip Čapka, Tomáš Duffek, Lukáš Ercoli, Lukáš Hlouch, Filip Kollmann, Michal Kovala, Marek Minařík, Jan Novák, Tomáš Ondra, Daniel Padyšák, Ondřej Satoria, Martin Schneider, Ondřej Vank, Boris Večerka
Catchers
- Matouš Bubeník, Martin Červenka, Martin Zelenka
Infielders
- Martin Červinka, Ryan Johnson, Vojtěch Menšík, Martin Mužík, Jan Pospíšil, Milan Prokop, Terrin Vavra
Outfielders
- Marek Chlup, William Escala, Marek Krejčiřík, Max Prejda, Michal Šindelka
What WBC pool are Czechia and Australia in?
Czechia and Australia are two of the five teams playing in Pool C of the World Baseball Classic. The rest of the group includes Japan, Korea and Chinese Taipei.
WBC Pool C standings
- South Korea: 1–0 (1.000) | +7 Run Diff
- Australia: 1–0 (1.000) | +3 Run Diff
- Japan: 0–0 (—) | 0 Run Diff
- Chinese Taipei: 0–1 (.000) | -3 Run Diff
- Czechia: 0–1 (.000) | -7 Run Diff