Defending champions Japan blanked unfancied China 4-0 as the 16-nation World Baseball Classic started with an all-Asian pool clash yesterday.
Shuichi Murata slammed a two-run homer off China’s starter Li Chenhao following Norichika Aoki’s run-scoring triple in the third inning to put Japan on the board. Japan scored another run on a balk in the sixth.
Japan next play the winners of today’s match between Beijing Olympic gold medalists South Korea and Taiwan. China will play the loser of that match.
The top two teams from each of the four double-elimination pools will advance to the second round in the US with the final set for March 23 in Los Angeles.
Japan’s baseball legend Sadaharu Oh, 68, who hit an unrivalled 868 home runs in his 21-year playing career with Tokyo’s Yomiuri Giants and piloted Japan to victory in the inaugural 2006 Classic, opened the game with a ceremonial pitch.
Nippon Ham Fighters ace Yu Darvish, famous for his variety of breaking balls, started proceedings for Japan.
He needed 10 pitches to finish the first inning, forcing China’s first two batters to ground out and striking out the third, Ray Chang of the Pirates-affiliated US triple-A club Portland.
The Samurai squandered a scoring chance in the bottom of the same inning as fifth batter Murata popped up to the right with runners on second and third bases.
With no out and runners on first and second bases in the bottom of the second, Seattle Mariners catcher Kenji Johjima went down for a double play. Tampa Bay Rays infielder Akinori Iwamura then grounded out.
After scoring three runs in the third, Japan missed another chance in the fourth when Aoki drove a liner straight to first base with two out and the bases loaded.
Darvish was replaced by Hideaki Wakui after throwing 46 pitches and giving up no hit in four innings.
He was the winning pitcher of the game.
Japan added another run in the sixth when China’s third pitcher Sun Guoqiang attempted a pickoff throw to prevent Seattle Mariners star rightfielder Ichiro Suzuki from stealing from first base.
The motion was ruled illegal and allowed a walk by Chicago Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome from third base to plate.
Suzuki, the lead-off-man, went 0 for 5 but dazzled with a fine play when he caught Chu Fujia’s deep right fly in the third.
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