Luke Ramirez struck out 11 and Andy Rios hit two two-run homers in a 12-run sixth inning that led Chula Vista, Calif., past Peabody, Mass., 14-0 at the Little League World Series on Sunday. The win clinched a berth in the next round for California. Sunday's game was tight early after California's potent bats couldn't get going against Massachusetts starter Matt Hosman, who struck out 10 in four-plus innings. Things changed in the sixth, when California sent 17 hitters to the plate against two relievers. Twelve straight batters reached base and 11 runs scored with two outs.

On a day when Red Sox pitcher Brad Penny was told that there is no scheduled time for his next start, the right-hander could say little about the turn of events. Penny (7-8, 5.61) is 1-5 with a 7.82 ERA in his last seven starts. His current outlook is unclear, as the right-hander suggested that he does "not really" have a sense of how he fits into the team's plans going forward this year.
 

"Whatever I have to do to pitch, I’ll do," said Penny. "That’s all I can tell you right now."
 

The Sox currently plan to have Penny available out of the bullpen, if necessary, to pitch long relief behind Tim Wakefield on Wednesday (in the knuckleballer's first start of the second half) and Junichi Tazawa on Thursday. If Penny does not pitch in relief in either of those games, he is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Friday.
 

"We don't just want him to be a reliever,...