World No. 1 Japan defeated No. 4 Venezuela, 9-6, in a roaring Tokyo Dome to end the second day of the WBSC Premier12 2024 presented by RAXUS Super Round.
Venezuela survived a shaky start. Carlos Pinto and Yohander Mendez needed 43 pitches to get out of the first inning.
"Mendez limited the damage to three runs and helped us stay in the game," said Venezuela's manager Omar Lopez. "I wish he could have gone one more inning, but he was tired."
Venezuela took the lead on a pair of two-run homers by Angel Reyes and Carlos Eduardo Perez. The game was tied at five when Shugo Maki stepped to the box with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. He would hit a grand slam.
"Sakakura hit a home run [to cut the gap], and then Kozono got on base with two outs. So, it was a team effort to set up that scoring chance, and I think the hit was thanks to everyone's contributions," said the Samurai Japan first baseman.
Maki added: "When I heard the crowd roar, it was truly the best feeling. The energy in the stadium was amazing, and I was really happy about it."
Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata also praised the team spirit: "We kept connecting. In the end, Maki finished it off for us. It was a crucial swing."
His general comment on the game was: "We took a 3-run lead, but when you miss opportunities to add more runs, it can lead to a situation like this. If we had taken advantage of those chances, I think the game could've been a bit more comfortable."
"It's not over for us," Omar Lopez commented. "It's just the beginning. Today, we showed what Venezuela can do. I'm sure people woke up early in Venezuela to watch us play. They saw 28 players and a coaching staff give all they had to win. It's time for us to take a breath, have some food and rest. We want to win tomorrow."
Perez also praised the WBSC Premier12 format. "I hope all countries respect this tournament and send the best players. The Premier12 will be around forever. It's a great event, but we can make it memorable."
"I'm proud to represent my country," said Carlos Eduardo Perezon on a final note. "I would do everything for this jersey. I'm glad I'm helping the team and want to keep helping the team. I try to keep it simple when I'm at the plate and just put a good swing on the ball."
Hiroto Saiki threw the first pitch at 19:08 (local time). The Hanshin Tigers right-hander hit first baseman Carlos Jesus Perez, allowing the first runner of the night. He navigated through the first inning, striking out the side. Shota Morishita made it a 2-0 game with a single up the middle.
Kaito Kozono started over from where he finished the night before, crushing the first offering by right-hander Ricardo Pinto to reach on a one-out double. Centre fielder Ryosuke Tatsumi slapped a double off the left-field wall, scoring Kozono from second and giving Japan the lead. Pinto walked Ryoya Kurihara, and pitching coach Luis Ramirez stepped to the mound for a conference. As the game resumed, Pinto walked Maki Shugo on nine pitches, and Venezuela turned to left-hander Johander Mendez.
Sosuke Genda grounded into a force out at second base. Morishita scored the third run, and Kurihara advanced to third. Mendez needed seven more pitches to retire Keita Sano, the eighth batter of the inning, on a grounder to first base and end the bottom of the first.
Venezuela made it a one-run game with their first hit. Ramon Flores walked to lead off the second. With one out, left fielder Angel Reyes looked at a ball and was all over the second pitch, turning it into a two-run home run.
Left-hander Liarvis Breto took the mound for Venezuela in the bottom of the fourth.
Samurai Japan went to the bullpen in the top of the sixth. Left-hander Haruto Inoue replaced Saiki, who reached the 88-pitch mark, and Venezuela took the lead. Herlis Rodriguez reached on a one-out single. With the count at 1-2, Carlos Eduardo Perez took advantage of an off-speed pitch missing its spot and turned it into a two-run home run to left field.
Inoue walked Jermaine Palacios, then allowed back-to-back singles to Angel Reyes and Francisco Arcia. Palacios scored the fifth run, and Reyes became the third out at home.
Shogo Sakakura made it a one-run game. With one out in the bottom of the sixth, the Samurai Japan catcher looked at two balls and drove the third pitch he saw over the centre field wall for a two-run home run.
Venezuela replaced Breto with right-hander Ricardo Rodriguez to retire Kuwahara, then handed the ball to José Alvarez. The left-hander walked Kozono, then allowed a single to Tatsumi and left the game. Venezuela's manager, Omar Lopez, handed the ball to Pedro Garcia.
The right-hander walked Shota Morishita on six pitches and gave another free pass to Kurihara, forcing the game-tying run by Kozono. First baseman Shugo Maki looked at one ball, then crushed a hanging breaking ball 405 feet (123 metres) from the home plate and into the left field bleachers for a grand slam that made the Tokyo Dome roar and gave Japan a 9-5 lead.
A standing ovation welcomed Maki back to his defensive position in the top of the seventh. Left-hander Shota Suzuki took the mound for Japan. The Chiba Lotte Marines reliever wouldn't last long. He allowed a pair of singles to Diego Castillo and Herlis Rodriguez, and Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata turned to Tatsuya Shimizu to end the threat.
Max Castillo pitched the seventh for Venezuela. In the bottom half of the inning, Japan called Shoma Fujihira, their fifth pitcher, from the bullpen.
Venezuela fought until the final out. Samurai Japan handed the ball to Taisei Ota in the top of the ninth. The right-hander allowed a leadoff single to Francisco Arcia, then got Diego Castillo to ground into a double play. Venezuela was not done. Alexi Amarista singled, advanced on a passed ball and scored on an RBI single by Carlos Eduardo Perez. Ota struck out Herlis Rodriguez to end the game.
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