Shota Onodera's shutout, 12-hit offence power Japan past South Africa 9-0
Ryuji Okawa hit a pair of triples in the game, with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Tei Hamamoto went 2-for-4 with a triple, a double, one RBI and two runs scored to lead a 12-hit Japanese offence in Wednesday’s 9-0 five-inning win against South Africa at Devon Park - OGE Energy Field in Oklahoma City, USA, in Game 4 of the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Group C.
Shota Onodera delivered a solid performance, tossing five scoreless innings to add to his tournament record. He struck out nine, allowing just one walk and two hits. Onodera has now pitched nine scoreless innings in the tournament, racking up 16 strikeouts from 31 batters faced, giving him a 51.6% strikeout rate.
South Africa managed just two hits, courtesy of Brandon Bouillon and Rian Hattingh. They have yet to score in the first 12 innings of the tournament.
Japan wasted no time taking the lead. Tei Hamamoto scored the first run on the third pitch of the game, hitting a standing triple to the left-field corner on an 0-1 pitch, then crossing the plate moments later on a wild pitch. They added another run in the first inning when Yusuke Morita walked, advanced on consecutive long fly balls, and scored on a wild pitch after a close play at home.
Japan scored three in their second at bat, using five consecutive hits to open the inning, including a triple by Ryuji Okawa, an RBI double by Hamamoto and a run-scoring single by Yusuke Morita. South Africa's starting pitcher Sebotse Ledwaba was pulled after Morita's hit, and was replaced by Lucas Lamola. The 19-year-old pitcher lasted 1.1 innings, allowing five runs on six hits.
Lamola stopped the Japanese offence, putting two consecutive zeroes on the scoreboard, striking out two in that span. However, in the top of the fifth Japan exploded with four runs on four consecutive hits, including a triple from Okawa (his second of the game) to take an 8-0 lead. Japan added one more on a wild pitch.
With this win, Japan improved their record to 2-0 in the tournament and on Thursday will play USA at 19:00 local time. On the other hand, this was South Africa's second loss in as many games.
