TAYLOR, Mich — Chace Numata gave himself several birthday presents yesterday, but none greater than a win in the League League Junior (ages 13-14) World Series.

Numata, who turned 15, had two hits and an RBI, scored a run and gave up only two runs in six innings pitched, as Pearl City defeated Middletown, N.J., 3-2.

Pearl City (2-0) plays Laredo, Texas (2-0) today; they're the only unbeaten teams from the United States.

The low-scoring game was a change of pace from the 24 combined runs scored in Pearl City's World Series opener.

"My fastball was working really well," Numata said, adding he threw mostly fastballs because he struggled to throw his change-up for strikes.

"I try different pitches, and if it doesn't work, I just let it go and get ready for the next pitch," he said of his pitching strategy.

Numata struck out eight, and Sumi Pruett pitched a perfect seventh inning in relief.

For the second straight night, Pearl City fell behind 2-0 before rallying for the win. After New Jersey scored two runs in the second inning, Chevas Numata singled with two outs in the third, scoring Chace Numata and making the score 2-1.

In the fourth, Pearl City catcher Isaac Shim walked and scored on a single by Chace Numata, and Brycen Kometani walked and scored on a wild pitch, making it 3-2.

Shim reached base in each of four plate appearances, getting hit by a pitch and walking three times.

"I'm looking for the (pitch) I like," Shim said. "I love it inside and a little high at my waist. I'm just waiting for them to throw my pitch, but they didn't throw it there."

That's fine with Pearl City manager Mitchell Yamato, who so far has loved his team's patience at the plate. Pearl City drew nine walks yesterday.

"Our coaches work to instill a lot of discipline in them," Yamato said.

Kometani, who came off the bench in the fourth, has been one of several Pearl City reserve players to deliver results in key moments.

"They're hungry to play," Yamato said of his reserves. "It's hard to keep your (starting) job, because the bench players are swinging it."