BUNKYO CITY, Tokyo - It begins for twelve and concludes for two, and on Thursday, at the commencement of the Super Round of the WBSC Premier12 world tournament sponsored by RAXUS, at the Tokyo Dome in Bunkyō, Tokyo, Japan and Venezuela indicated that they might be the two finalists in this third edition of the Premier12 tournament.
On a cold night at the Tokyo Dome, Japan attacked Team USA with everything, to defeat the American team by a score of 9-1 and start the defense of its title on a good pace in this decisive stage of the tournament in view of the final this Sunday.
"The win that really matters is the one we achieved today," said Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata. "Of course, all the previous wins matter, they were achieved by other coaches and different players and they make us proud, but we are not focused on the streak - 25 consecutive wins by the Japanese squad in major international events - we want to concentrate on the next game to win it."
It is certainly worth watching to admire the efficiency of the Japanese team. Although the squad doesn't seem focused on maintaining any streak—and let's be honest, all streaks eventually end—victories in any round of an international tournament simplify the task and pave the way forward. Since Japan's scare against the Cuban team last Saturday, November 17, when they narrowly defeated Cuba 7-6 after being tied at six runs in seven and a half innings, Japan has firmly established its favoritism. They scored 20 runs in their next two games with 25 hits, while limiting their opponents to just four runs and 14 hits, achieving convincing victories against the Dominican Republic and Team USA today.
This Thursday followed the usual pattern. Both starting pitchers were impressive in the first four innings, with 44-year-old American veteran Rich Hill allowing just one hit, striking out five, and issuing no walks. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Japanese right-hander Hiroto Takahashi struck out eight, allowing two hits and a walk.
In the fifth inning, Japan would eventually secure the win, its 25th consecutive victory in WBSC top-level international tournaments.
“In my previous start against South Korea, my fastball and splitter were working well, but I couldn’t get a third pitch like my cutter or curveball to work,” Takahashi said during the press conference. “This time, all my pitches worked and I was able to adjust to the hitters without any problems.”
Team USA struck first in the top of the fifth inning, when after Takahashi left the game, left-handed reliever Chihiro Sumida gave up a solo home run to left fielder Colby Thomas.
Japan will answer quickly. Rich Hill left the mound after only 58 pitches—43 of them strikes—in a decision characteristic of modern baseball that defies logic. Japan capitalized on this "mistake" by American coach Mike Scioscia.
"You don't have to look at his age. Rich still has talent, he can still play at the highest level," said Team USA manager Mike Scioscia anyway. "He gave us four solid innings."
During the fifth inning against reliever Darrell Thompson, Sosuke Genda and Keita Sano hit singles, followed by Shogo Sakakura's double down the right field line, which tied the game. Shortly after, Sano mistakenly ran to the plate on a grounder to first baseman Masayuki Kuwahara. However, second baseman Kaito Kozono redeemed the error by hitting a triple down the right field line, clearing the bases and giving Japan a 3-1 lead, which they maintained for the rest of the game.
Japan would strike again just two innings later, when off the fourth American reliever, left-hander Austin Drury, Kozono hit a three-run homer to extend Japan's lead to 6-1.
The night continued triumphantly for Kozono, the game's MVP, as he hit his second home run in the eighth inning, bringing in two runs and securing the final score of 9-1. Prior to Kozono's homer, Masayuki Kuwahara had extended Japan's lead to 7-1 with a single to center-field that drove in Ryota Isobata.
Japan, whose main goal was to curtail the power of Team USA, the tournament's leading home run hitter with 9, successfully achieved this objective.
Despite Thomas' home run, Japan's pitching, which included four relievers, looked immense against Team USA, leaving them with only 6 hits, two extra-base hits and striking out 16.
Ultimately, the message was clear: Samurai Japan will be a tough team to beat at the Tokyo Dome. With unwavering support from their fans and flawless performance on the field, this team showcases the magic of having remained undefeated in international competitions since 2019.
The streak will be in everyone's sights, when this Friday Samurai Japan faces Venezuela at 7:00 pm (local time), 5:00 am (Cuba and Eastern US time).
USA - JAPAN - Highlights
Venezuela 2, Chinese Taipei 0
And in the afternoon, during the match that kicked off the Super Round, Venezuela scored a big win, beating Chinese Taipei 2-0 at the Tokyo Dome.
The difference in the match was a two-run home run by Carlos Pérez in the fourth inning that gave the Venezuelans a definitive lead.
"I was looking for a breaking ball. He threw me a slider that hung just enough for me to make good contact," Pérez said after the game.
With the win, the Venezuelan team, under manager Omar López, secured its fifth victory in six games in this competition, continuing a streak of success that will be tested this Friday when the team faces the still undefeated Japan.
"I would say that pitch was the only mistake in a game in which both teams played very well," said the Venezuelan manager at the press conference. "Overall it was a great game. Chinese Taipei had a great chance to score in the fifth, but Pedro García was able to get the last out and get us out of the bases loaded jam."
The win was marked by an eight-man shutout of Venezuelan pitching, with seven hits and 13 strikeouts. After the departure of starter Nivaldo Rodríguez, who struck out five and allowed only three hits in four innings, seven other pitchers saw work with Oddanier Mosqueda taking the win, after completing 1 2/3 scoreless innings between the eighth and ninth innings.
Right-hander Enderson Franco was in charge of closing out the game, coming in with two outs in the ninth inning, striking out Kun-Yu Chiang for the save.
Taipei's right-hander Huang Tzu-Peng took the loss after allowing Pérez's home run, completing 4 2/3 innings of five hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
"I think you have to give credit to the hitter," said Chinese Taipei manager Hao-Ju Tseng. "Our starter pitched very well."
And this Friday, in a clash of undefeated teams, Venezuela will battle Japan at night, 7:00 pm (local time) at the Tokyo Dome, and in the afternoon, 12:00 pm (local time), Chinese Taipei will seek its first victory, when it faces the loser of this opening day of the Super Round, Team USA.
CHINESE TAIPEI - VENEZUELA - Highlights
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