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With a simple ground out to third base, Kei Kawanishi rifled the ball to first baseman Rui Tobata and just like that, Japan kept its summer going at the Little League World Series.
The routine third-to-first ground out ended Tuesday's elimination game at Volunteer Stadium, giving Tokyo, Japan a 3-1 win against Tijuana, Mexico.
The loss eliminates Mexico from the tournament. With the win, Japan advances to face either Canada or South Korea at 5 p.m. on Wednesday at Volunteer Stadium.
In the top of the first inning, Japan collected three straight singles to help the offense collect runs. Takeru Yorozu, Tensei Yazawa and Yunosuke Yabe had consecutive singles to begin the game. Yabe's single drove in Yorozu for the first run and an error allowed Ryosuke Takaoka to reach and drove home Yazawa.
Japan made it a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth when a fielder's choice by Takaoka alowed him to reach and brought in Yorozu, who opened the inning with an error.
Mexico avoided the shutout in the bottom of the fourth, however. Oscar Mateo Montanez reached on a walk before a shallow single to right put Jorge Fonseca on base. A grounder down the first base line moved them up a base before a ground out by Rafael mesina brought home Montanez and cut the deficit to two runs.
But Mexico was never able to claw back from there and plate more runs. The next two innings saw Mexico's bats go quiet with consecutive three up, three down innings.
Japan out-hit Mexico, 8-4.Takaoka went 2 for 2 to lead Japan, driving in two runs. Yabe also went 2 for 2 at the plate.
Mexico was led by Fonseca's 2 for 2 performance while Gael Santamaria (1 for 2) and Matias Garcia 91 for 2) also had singles.
Tensei Yazawa threw an outstanding game in possibly his final Little League performance, going five complete innings on 85 pitches with seven strikeouts, one run allowed and only four singles given up.
"I'm just very happy," Yazawa said. "Obviously I threw in my last time to pitch in my Little League Life. I really wanted to just give my best."
And give his best he did.
Mexico's Jorge Fonseca threw a complete game too on 84 pitches with three strikeouts and eight singles.
"He wanted to win," Mexico manager Francisco Fimbres said.