Australia have made it two wins from as many starts at the World Baseball Classic in Tokyo.
After upsetting world No.2 Taiwan 3-0 on Thursday, a Curtis Mead three-run homer in the third inning powering the Aussies to a 5-1 win over the Czech Republic in Pool C action on Friday.
Mead, a Chicago White Sox infielder, finished the night with two hits, as did Australian teammates Alex Hall, Jarryd Dale and Chris Burke. Hall hit a solo homer in the ninth inning before Robbie Perkins added an RBI single.
The relief pitching combination of Coen Wynne, Blake Townsend, Ky Hampton, Todd Van Steensel and Mitch Neunborn allowed just two hits and four base runners total in relief of Josh Hendrickson.
Hendrickson was solid in his start, going three innings and allowing just one run.
Australia need to finish as one of the top-two teams in the group to progress to the quarter-finals of baseball's version of the FIFA World Cup.
"The bullpen was great, everyone was great. Even our starter Josh Hendrickson was very good," manager Dave Nilsson said post-match.
"I think the key here is we are limiting the walks, staying focused and executing the game plan. We've allowed one run in 18 innings and I think anywhere that's a good stat.
"We've really simplified the game plan and all the credit goes to the players and coaches for executing a game plan."
The 11th-ranked Australians next face world No.1 and defending champions Japan on Sunday night and the fourth-ranked South Koreans on Monday.
The Czechs (0-2) opened the scoring in the second inning on a sacrifice fly from Vojtech Mensik. Martin Cervenka had half of the team's four hits.
The day's program ended with the game's greatest player Shohei Ohtani putting on a show in front of his home fans in Tokyo as he hit a grand slam in the second inning to lead defending champions Japan to a 13-0 hammering of Taiwan in pool C.
In the first inning, Ohtani had doubled on the first pitch of the game to get into the groove, but actually the fun had started earlier when he warmed up in practice by taking about 25 swings, hitting about 10 balls out of the park while clocking another few against the outfield wall.
“I knew it was going to leave the park right away after I hit it," Ohtani said of his grand slam. "It’s important to score first.”
Bowing and tipping his cap, he thanked the fans, telling them: "We got off to a good start, so I think it was all because of your support. If the fans and the team can come together and cheer it will encourage us, so please support us.”
With agencies
