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SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Ben Gottfried hit a two-run homer and threw 4 2/3 innings of three-hit ball and Pearland, Texas, beat Bonita, California, 8-4 on Sunday to improve to 2-0 in the Little League World Series.
Gottfried allowed no earned run, struck out seven and stifled a team that had hit 90 home runs during 17 straight all-star wins. His sixth-inning home run made it, 8-1.
Isaac Garcia closed out the win for a second straight Series game despite allowing a Dante Schmid three-run, sixth-inning home run.
Pearland advanced to play the Lewisberry, Pennsylvania-Taylors, South Carolina winner in Wednesday, with that winner going to Saturday's U.S. title game.
Pearland scored five third-inning runs, four with two outs. Pinch-hitter Raffi Gross provided the big blow, driving the first pitch he saw well over the left-field fence for a two-run home run that put Pearland up, 4-0. Garcia then added an RBI single and another runner scored on an error.
Zack Mack had two RBIs for the Southwest champions and his first-inning RBI single put Pearland up to stay. Levi Mendez hit a third-inning RBI double for Bonita, which dropped into the loser's bracket and will play Monday against Cranston, Rhode Island.
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