Japan through to baseball semis at Beijing Games

Wednesday 20th August, 07:24 AM JST

BEIJING —

Tsuyoshi Nishioka drove in three runs and Hideaki Wakui made his second consecutive strong start Tuesday to lift Japan to a 10-0 rout of China and clinch a spot in the semifinals of the Beijing Olympic baseball tournament. Takahiko G.G. Sato, Akihiro Yano and Nishioka delivered run-scoring hits in a three-run second inning at Wukesong Baseball Field and Japan cruised to win a game that was called after seven innings under the mercy rule while improving its record to 4-2 in the preliminary round. The United States also picked up its fourth win with a 4-2 victory over Taiwan and will meet Japan on the final day of the preliminary round on Wednesday. The winner will finish third and take on Cuba while the loser faces South Korea in Friday’s semis. ‘‘Today we were able to book a spot in the semifinals and we have Wakui to thank for his perfect pitching and the fact we scored 10 runs to make it a called game. So it was a clear victory,’’ said Japan manager Senichi Hoshino. ‘‘I think the Chinese pitchers were getting tired from this series and also our batters really responded well today to take advantage.’‘

Undefeated South Korea went through to the semifinals as the winner of round-robin play after a 7-4 win over three-time gold medalist Cuba, which has been guaranteed second place and also qualified. Hoshino’s team, which squeaked by Canada 1-0 on Monday, pounced on China starter Wang Nan in the second inning with back-to-back RBI doubles to right by Sato and Yano, followed by Nishioka’s single through the hole between third and short. Atsunori Inaba made it 4-0 in the fourth with an RBI double before Nishioka drove a two-run homer to spark a six-run sixth, which also included run-scoring hits from Hiroyuki Nakajima, Arai and Inaba. Seibu Lions right-hander Wakui threw a two-hit shutout in his first start since holding Taiwan to a run and three hits over six innings in a 6-1 win last Thursday. China’s team manager Jim Lefebvre said he gives his team, which has a 1-5 record, high marks for its foray into the Olympics. ‘‘We came into these Olympics knowing it would be very difficult to even win a game. We could have easily been 3-1 after the first four games but it turned out were 1-3. I’m going to give our team a B. We pitched extremely well in close games and had timely hits.’’

Kyodo

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pathat at 11:37 PM JST - 20th August

It is shocking that a team full of most of Japans best players not in MLB could not do anything against the American team at the plate, and, in the end, Japans top reliever-Hitoki Iwase-could not keep the Americans off the board.

I can already see the sports dailies here saying the 11th-inning format was another planned American trick to defeat the Japanese, just like the Japanese seem convinced that they would have won the WBC game with the Americans without Davidson`s lousy call.

But I still contend, regardless of what some others insist on here, that this victory is a hollow one, because of it was achieved.

Anyway, let`s hope for a clear U.S. victory in the next game.
smithinjapan at 11:38 PM JST - 20th August

Pathat: "No, the simple fact of the matter is that this game was decided in a way that does not belong in baseball-Olympics or otherwise-and I doubt very seriously that the Americans, from Davy Johnson down to the last player on the bench, truly get any satisfaction out of this."

I agree baseball doesn't belong in the Olympics... as well as most other team sports with more than a handful of players. However, the extra-inning rules do not mean the game is decided randomly, as it is in Japan with highschool baseball during the rain (if it rains after 5 inning, the team with the most to date wins. If before 5th inning, both start again at zero); the game is still ended with one team beating the other in runs earned through hits.

Why I think the rules of baseball here and in other championships is bogus is that, let's say Japan wins the next game against Korea -- they can suddenly win the gold in the next game, despite losing far more games than Korea! It's the same with the baseball classic two years ago. Japan lost... what... three times to Korea? Then by some fluke (the US losing) they got to play again and won the whole thing, despite Korea only losing that last game and winning all others, and Japan losing 3 or so. It's utterly stupid.

What's more, the Japanese women's game against Australia went into extra innings and now they get to play for the gold medal.... so is that as ridiculous and unfair as this game is? Should Australia be complaining?

As for not seeing why mindyou deserves a hard time... well... try looking again.

Romulus: It did indeed, stink.
chibaman at 11:43 PM JST - 20th August

Ummm... hate to burst your bubble, but Japan has given away 18 runs so far, and Canada 11

C'mon, correct figures are no match for xenophobic rhetoric.

The glorious US wins tonight. And no-good Hoshino Japan is toast! I herby declare the US the new World Champions. Congratulations USA! WORLD CHAMPIONS forever.
some14some at 11:44 PM JST - 20th August

USA wins 4-2, means competetion for copper coin is still alive for both.
chibaman at 11:52 PM JST - 20th August

I can already see the sports dailies here saying the 11th-inning format was another planned American trick

It's a bloody outrage it is! Completely unfair and directly responsible in the event of a non-gold final result.

N.B. The gold medal was guaranteed to Japan the day the sun goddess drew her sword from the ocean and her drops formed the best baseball country on a planet they grudgingly have to share with the rest of the world.
pathat at 11:52 PM JST - 20th August

smith wrote:

"Why I think the rules of baseball here and in other championships is bogus is that, let's say Japan wins the next game against Korea -- they can suddenly win the gold in the next game, despite losing far more games than Korea! It's the same with the baseball classic two years ago. Japan lost... what... three times to Korea? Then by some fluke (the US losing) they got to play again and won the whole thing, despite Korea only losing that last game and winning all others, and Japan losing 3 or so. It's utterly stupid."

Yes, I agree with you. I think Japan lost 2 games to Korea before winning the 3rd time in the WBC, but your basic point is spot on. I think the WBC format has been changed to prevent the same occurrence in 2009.

Dont get me wrong. Im happy the U.S. won-I shouldn`t have said a "hollow victory"-but there is just something missing because of the ending.

Anyway, it`s going to be hard to get the gold. The Koreans really look tough and the Cubans still have a lot of talent.
usaexpat at 11:59 PM JST - 20th August

Well I was right about the 4 teams through to the finals but I am really surprised at how dominant South Korea has been. My money was on Cuba, The US or Japan going undefeated. Anyway, these are the top 4 teams in the world and almost always are. That's my theory on why baseball is going away, the IOC doesn't want to waste time on a sport where only 4 teams are ever competitive (and none European). Back on track: GO Japan I love an under dog.
RomeoRamenII at 12:39 AM JST - 21st August

I am glad to see Team USA win tonight, but not that all excited about it because of the phony playoff rule set up by the Olympic Powers That Be.

That said, it is interesting to note that Team Hoshino Japan got their two extra inning runners home, loaded up the bases and then could not close the deal.

Team Hoshino Japan losing to a band of AA-level U.S. players tells a lot about the quality of Japanese professional baseball.

RR
romulus3 at 12:58 AM JST - 21st August

Japan vs Korea, USA vs Cuba.. it could not be more organized by the US and Japan. I hope the final is Korea vs Cuba. That will embarrass these 2 bedfellows for a while. I even saw it happen. The pitching coach begging his pitcher to throw some flat balls. hands clasped and all. Goes against the entire Japanese system. A boss would never approach his employee in such a way. Never and especially after Hoshino vowed he learned his lesson about struggling closers. The match was framed.
smithinjapan at 01:46 AM JST - 21st August

Pathat: "Anyway, it`s going to be hard to get the gold. The Koreans really look tough and the Cubans still have a lot of talent."

Glad we're seeing eye-to-eye. The Koreans have been a wicked lot so far this tournament, which is the main reason I've been rooting for them above Japan; they have a far better and more together team than the latter, who seem like a spoiled and unorganized lot. It's hilarious to think that these are the cream of the crop in Japanese professional baseball, while the US players were not major leaguers at all.

But here's the thing, again... could it ACTUALLY be the US vs. Japan for a gold medal match, if both Cuba and SKorea lost in the upcoming games? Then those two, who have done nothing but win (save for a single run in the Cuba/SKorea game, where one team HAD to lose!), have to play for bronze? If that's the case, then THAT's the crime. I'm glad they've at least revised such stupid rules for the next Baseball Classic.... looks like Japan actually has to try to win based on talent, not luck.
hoserfella at 11:32 AM JST - 21st August

The games against the AA Canadians and Americans also exposed a long-standind problem with the Japanese. They're a bunch of 160 pound slap hitters with warning-track power who don't like inside pitches.
smithinjapan at 09:54 PM JST - 21st August

Here's a question... why is there no article about Japan losing to the US? Too sensitive for a Japanese set, let alone the Japanese people? Did the game just cease to exist, like in the Japanese media?
smithinjapan at 09:56 PM JST - 21st August

Hehehe...hope you all caught my sarcasm.... every time Japan wins the headlines are 'Japan BLAZES...', 'Japan MOWS DOWN'...., 'Japan CRUSHES....', and then when they are brutally beaten the headlines are much more subtle.
yosun at 01:05 AM JST - 22nd August

smith, "Here's a question... why is there no article about Japan losing to the US? "

Neither Japan nor the US want to win to face Cuba! that's why the whole game is f..king bored.
chibaman at 02:06 AM JST - 22nd August

Didn't they put that news up? I think it's more a matter of amateur hour here. Don't think they put together even a couple of paragraphs on Bolt's 200m world record win either. If they're having trouble getting translations out, can I offer my services? I'll try to keep my barrage against this god-forsaken land to a minimum.