World No. 1 Japan defeated No. 5 USA, 9-1, in front of over 25,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome to close the second day of the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS. It's the 25th consecutive international win for Samurai Japan.
"The win that really matters is the one we earned today," commented manager Hirokazu Ibata. "Of course, all those wins matter. They belong to many other managers and players and make us all proud. But we are not thinking about the streak. We want to concentrate on the next game and winning that game on that day."
The game developed as a pitching duel for the first four innings.
"Don't look at his age [44]. Rich [Hill] still has his talent; he can still perform at the top level," commented USA manager Mike Scioscia. "He gave us four strong innings. We thought it was time to go to the bullpen because he couldn't go much longer, and we were facing a strong lineup. He is still expanding his pitch count."
"Hiroto Takahashi pitched very well. I would say he was almost perfect. He had a 70 pitch count, but he had been so intense and focused that 70 equalled 100."
"I felt confident with my fastball and splitter," said Takahashi. "I think what made the difference with the game I pitched against Korea was the command of my cutter. The hitters didn't know what they could expect."
"He threw his fastball up and away, his splitter in," commented Colbt Thomas. "You need time to adjust to a pitcher like him."
Thomas gave the US the first lead with a solo home run.
"We played in an awesome environment. I never felt such an atmosphere in my career. This place is very loud, but keeps you in the game. It gave me the energy to put a good swing on the ball."
"The US are a strong team that can hit home runs," said Ibata. "Fortunately, we could score three runs immediately and kept adding runs. You are never totally secure when you face a team like the US."
Ibata also had a home run hitter. Kaito Kozono had two, matching what the whole team combined in the opening round.
"I'm not your typical home run hitter. I only had two during the whole season. But I'm glad I came up with the big hits today. I'm doing my best every at-bat, every game. The support from the fans is also a big boost."
Japan's pitching staff dominated. Five pitchers combined 16 strikeouts and allowed only six hits and three walks.
"We are still shooting for a gold medal," added Scioscia. "But we need to play better than this."
Hiroto Takahashi threw the first pitch at 19:03 (local time). He struck out the side in the top of the first, using 16 pitches, ten for strikes.
Japan's leadoff hitter Masayuki Kuwahara singled on US lefty Rich Hill's third offering. The 44-year-old veteran allowed another runner on a fielding error before closing the inning.
Shortstop Carson Williams got to Takahashi with a one-out double in the top of the second, recording the first USA hit. He wouldn't get beyond second base.
Justin Crawford reached on a one-out single in the top of the third. Takahashi got out of the at-bat when he got right fielder Chandler Simpson ground into a double play.
Takahashi walked first baseman Luke Ritter with one out in the top of the fourth. He struck out the side to get out of the at-bat. His four-seam fastball topped 155 kilometres (97 miles) per hour, and his splitter sat at 146 kilometres (91 miles).
Left-hander Chihito Sumida took over for Takahashi in the top of the fifth. Left fielder Colby Thomas drove his second offering 437 feet (133 metres) from home plate and into the left field bleachers for a solo home run, putting the US ahead.
Darrel Thompson relieved Hill in the bottom half of the frame. Veteran shortstop Sosuke Genda and designated hitter Keita Sano got to the left-hander with back-to-back one-out singles. Catcher Shogo Sakakura drilled an inside fastball off the right field wall for an RBI double. Sano advanced to third.
USA manager Mike Scioscia called Austin Vernon from the bullpen. The right-hander got the second out at home when Sano tried to score from third on Masayuki Kuwahara's slow roller to first base. Second baseman Kaito Kozono smashed a 1-1 pitch over the first base bag for a two-RBI triple, giving Japan the lead.
Spencer Patton took the mound for the US in the bottom of the sixth.
Koki Kitaiama took over for Sumida in the top of the seventh. The right-hander allowed a leadoff walk to Carson Williams. With two outs, Scioscia called left-handed pinch hitter Drake, who struck out on three pitches. Baldwin stayed in the game as the catcher.
Austin Drury took the mound for the US in the bottom of the seventh. He allowed a leadoff single to Sano, then picked off pinch-runner Ryota Isobata at first. Scioscia handed the ball to Zane Mills. The right-hander hit Masayuki Kiwahara. After a coaching visit, Kozono got to his first pitch and turned it into a three-run homer, extending Japan's lead to 6-1.
Left-hander Cam Vieux took the US mound with two outs and Ryosuke Tatsumi at third. He hit Ryoya Kurihara, and the inning ended when Justin Crawford ran a long distance to catch Shugo Maki's deep fly.
Shoma Fujihira stepped to the mound in the top of the eighth. He allowed the US their fifth hit but got out of the inning with the 14th Japanese strikeout.
Vieux hit Isobata in the bottom half of the frame. The DH stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on Kuwahara's single. Kozono looked at a ball, then homered to right field on the second pitch. The Samurai Japan second baseman went 3-for-5, with two home runs, one triple and 7 RBIs.
Rikuto Yokoyama took the mound for Japan in the top of the ninth. He walked Carson Williams, who tried to score from second on a single to left field by Termarr Johnson, but became the final out of the game.
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