Nakata leads Japan to 6-5 win over Mexico at Premier12

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Sho Nakata drove in five runs, including the winning run in the ninth inning, to lead top-ranked Japan to a 6-5 walkoff win over Mexico in the Premier12 baseball tournament on Wednesday.

Mexico tied the game in the top of the ninth but Nakata's line drive to center scored Tetsuto Yamada from second as Japan improved to 2-0.

Nakata also hit a two-run homer in the second, drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the third and singled in a run in the fifth.

In other games, the United States dropped to 1-1 after a 7-5 loss to Venezuela, Canada improved to 2-0 with a 2-0 win over Puerto Rico, host Taiwan routed Italy 7-1, Cuba edged the Netherlands 6-5 and South Korea beat the Dominican Republic 10-1.