Canada pulls massive upset over Japan at Little League World Series

Japan third baseman Yujiro Moriya, left, can't get the tag on Canada's Sean Coventry as he slides into third safely. (Gene J. Puskar/AP)

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Loreto Siniscalchi struck out 13 in 5 2/3 innings and Canada upset Tokyo 10-4 on Friday to snap Japan’s 23-game opening round winning streak in the Little League World Series.

It was Japan’s first loss to open a LLWS since 1965.

Canada, a club from Vancouver, British Columbia, opened the first inning with two straight singles and took a 2-0 lead after a fielder’s choice and a double steal. Siniscalchi scored on a passed ball in the third and Sean Coventry crossed home on a wild pitch to make it 4-0. Japan had five wild pitches in the first three innings.

Cristian Santarelli smashed a two-run homer over the centre-field wall in the fourth for a 6-0 lead. In the fifth, Canada loaded the bases with one out. Stefano Dal Sasso had a RBI single up the middle and Nathan Clegg drove in two runs with a bloop double for a 9-1 lead.

Japan got on the board in the fourth when So Hirao scored from second after a throwing error to first. Japan tacked on two runs in the sixth.

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