LLWS 2026 Game 35 Recap: Japan 0, Curaçao 4
Curaçao beat Japan 4-0 to win the international championship, sending the Willemstad club to the LLWS title game for the sixth time in its history. Jaymiëll Martina struck out 12 batters over 5.2 scoreless innings and added an RBI double of his own. All four Curaçao runs scored on a string of bunt-related miscues by Japan in the third inning.
Curaçao has now outscored its four tournament opponents 23-3 in Williamsport. The Caribbean region champions advance to face Nevada, which beat Ohio 12-2 for the U.S. title, in Sunday’s LLWS championship game at 3 p.m. ET. Japan will play Ohio in Sunday’s third-place game.
Jaymiëll Martina Strikes Out 12
Martina allowed just two hits and two walks across 5.2 innings, escaping an early jam after Japan’s Tensei Yazawa and Yunosuke Yabe led off the game with back-to-back singles. He walked Kei Kawanishi to load the bases before striking out Ryosuke Takaoka and Taiga Yumitori to end the threat. Martina left the mound with two outs in the sixth to a standing ovation from fans on both sides, including Japan supporters along the third-base line.
A pitch-count-limited finish: Martina’s 87 pitches meant Little League rules barred him from taking the mound again in the tournament. Giendry Ryan, who had combined with Martina to no-hit Japan earlier in the double-elimination bracket, came on to record the final out and preserve the shutout.
Jaymiëll Martina Strikes Out 12
Yunosuke Yabe had not allowed a hit in his first two innings for Japan before the third inning unraveled. Jaymiel Antonia reached on a dropped third strike by catcher Kei Kawanishi. Nathanael Jansen then laid down a bunt to move Antonia over, but Yazawa’s throw to second base went astray. Center fielder Takeru Yorozu’s throw toward third then sailed wide, allowing Antonia to score the game’s first run.
Curaçao kept the pressure on with a string of bunts, and Martina’s own RBI double added insurance later in the game. All four Curaçao runs were manufactured through small ball rather than hard contact, a formula that has defined the team’s pitching-and-defense identity throughout the tournament.
How the Game Unfolded, Inning by Inning
| INNING | KEY PLAY | SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Yazawa and Yabe lead off with back-to-back singles for Japan. Martina walks Kawanishi to load the bases, then strikes out Takaoka and Yumitori to escape. | CUR 0, JPN 0 |
| 2nd | Yunosuke Yabe keeps Curaçao hitless through his first two innings on the mound. | CUR 0, JPN 0 |
| 3rd | Jaymiel Antonia reaches on a dropped third strike. Bunt-related throwing errors from Yazawa and center fielder Takeru Yorozu let Antonia score. | CUR 1, JPN 0 |
| Later Innings | Curaçao adds three more runs through continued small ball, including an RBI double from Martina himself. | CUR 4, JPN 0 |
| 6th | Martina exits with two outs after reaching his pitch-count limit. Giendry Ryan closes out the shutout. | Final: CUR 4, JPN 0 |
Game 35 Box Score
| TEAM | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curaçao | 4 | TBD | 0 |
| Japan | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| PITCHER | TEAM | IP | H | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaymiëll Martina | Curaçao | 5.2 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
| Giendry Ryan | Curaçao | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | TBD |
| KEY PLAY | PLAYER | TEAM | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|
| RBI Double | Jaymiëll Martina | Curaçao | Added insurance to his own dominant pitching line |
| Run Scored | Jaymiel Antonia | Curaçao | Scored on bunt-related throwing errors in the 3rd |
Sunday’s Championship and Third-Place Games
Conclusion
Curaçao beat Japan 4-0 in Game 35 of the 2026 LLWS to win the international championship. Jaymiëll Martina struck out 12 over 5.2 scoreless innings and added an RBI double before reaching his pitch-count limit. All four Curaçao runs scored on bunt-related miscues from Japan in the third inning.
Curaçao advances to Sunday’s LLWS championship game against Nevada, having outscored its opponents 23-3 across four games in Williamsport. Japan’s tournament ends in the international final, its deepest run since 2019, and the team now turns to Sunday’s third-place game against Ohio.
