Little League World Series 2012 Scores: Win Shows Japan Has Pitching for Title

Japan has given up one unearned run in 21 innings so far in the 2012 Little League World Series after its 4-1 victory over Panama on Wednesday.

That's reason enough to label the Japanese as the favorites to claim the LLWS championship.

Japan's team ERA still sits at 0.00 through three LLWS games after starting pitcher Ryuji Osada gave up one unearned run in five innings on Wednesday, allowing just four hits and striking out seven.

For the LLWS, Japan has racked up a tournament-leading 38 strikeouts, while giving up just three free passes (and recording just one wild pitch). Opposing teams are hitting a minuscule .137 against the Japanese and the team still haven't allowed a home run.

Perhaps what was most surprising about Japan's win on Wednesday was that it wasn't a shutout like in the club's two previous games. The pitching has been that dominant.

Before you label it a fluke, know that the team from Tokyo gave up just six runs in four games in the Japan regional, including an 11-0 blowout in the championship game against Matsusaka. This club's pitching is definitely for real.

Japan has gone 3-0 in the LLWS despite scoring a ho-hum 13 runs. The 2-0 victory over Chinese Taipei was an instant classic that saw Hajime Motegi blast a two-run, game-winning homer in the bottom of the ninth inning. Yuta Ishida and Noriatsu Osaka combined for nine shutout innings in the win, allowing just four hits while striking out 15.

Huntington Beach, Calif., beat Japan in the LLWS championship game last year, 2-1. The team gave up just four runs in the entire tournament.

Japan will follow Huntington Beach's lead this year and capture the 2012 Little League World Series title with its pitching.