Dominican Republic falls to Japan, exits Premier 12

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic concluded its Premier 12 journey with an 11-3 defeat to defending champion Japan in Taipei. Despite a strong start, the Dominican team fell short, finishing the tournament with a 1-4 record, while Japan advanced undefeated (5-0) as Group B leaders.

Early runs by José Devers and Alen Hanson gave the Dominicans a brief lead, but Japan quickly equalized and dominated the later innings. Key hits by Toshiya Sato and Ryoya Kurihara, along with errors and wild pitches, widened the gap. Japan scored five runs in the ninth inning to seal the game.

Dominican players like Hanson, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles, showed resilience despite the loss. The team will return home on November 20, bringing their Premier 12 campaign to a close.