It is nearly impossible to overstate how excited Japan is for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. There are multiple TV shows daily that preview some aspect of the tournament or feature certain players. The merchandise seems to be flying off the shelves too quickly for merchants to keep up with the demand. And yet up to this point, all Samurai Japan has done is play five practice games against NPB teams. Here is a recap of the action so far.
Saturday, February 25 vs. SoftBank Hawks
Starting Pitcher: Roki Sasaki
Sasaki threw two clean innings, as did Shota Imanaga. In the bottom of the fourth, Kazuma Okamoto hit a bases-clearing double and eventually scored. The next inning, Kensuke Kondoh and Okamoto each drove in a run. The Hawks put up four runs in the sixth against Hiroya Miyagi (just one earned), but Team Japan added two insurance runs in the seventh. Final: Japan 8, SoftBank 4
Sunday, February 26 vs. SoftBank Hawks
Starting Pitcher: Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Yamamoto surrendered the game’s first two runs (one earned) in the second inning, but his mates got those runs back in the fifth. In the top of the ninth, they took the lead on a Sosuke Genda RBI single and a ground-out RBI. Final: Japan 4, SoftBank 2
Friday, March 3 vs. Chunichi Dragons
Starting Pitcher: Shota Imanaga
The Dragons drew first blood on an RBI single in the third, which Japan returned in the next inning. But then in the sixth, Shosei Togo served up a home run and gave up another run on a double, and then Yuki Matsui gave up four runs in the seventh on two hits and three walks. Shugo Maki got one back on an RBI double in the eighth. Final: Chunichi 7, Japan 2
Saturday, March 4 vs. Chunichi Dragons
Starting Pitcher: Roki Sasaki
The Japanese team opened the scoring in the third on a Kondoh RBI double, but Miyagi gave up a solo home run in the fourth. Okamoto gave his team the lead again in the seventh with Samurai Japan’s first home run of the spring, and then substitute Chusei Mannami (Fighters – not on Team Japan!) hit a two-run home run in the eighth. Final: Japan 4, Chunichi 1
Monday, March 6 vs. Hanshin Tigers
Starting Pitcher: Yoshinobu Yamamoto
The MLB returnees were allowed to play for the first time this spring, and they all made their presence felt. Lars Nootbaar collected hits in his first two at-bats, including the game’s opening RBI single in the third. Nootbaar came home on a towering, Adrian Beltre-esque three-run shot by Shohei Ohtani. After Yamamoto gave up a solo home run in the bottom of the frame, Ohtani clubbed another three-run home run in the fifth. It was soon followed by an RBI double by Masataka Yoshida. Final: Japan 8, Hanshin 1
Samurai Japan has one more practice game tomorrow against the Orix Buffaloes. Then, in less than 72 hours, the real action begins. Japan will face China (3/9), South Korea (3/10), Czech Republic (3/11) and Australia (3/12). Expect to see Shohei Ohtani, Yu Darvish, Roki Sasaki, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto starting those four games, in that order. Buckle up, everyone. This looks to be a WBC for the ages.
