Mexico and Japan will open the fourth day of the Olympic baseball tournament, followed by Korea and the United States.
Mexico - Japan (Group A)
Japan chose 23-year old righthander Masato Morishita. In his second Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) season, Morishita started 13 games for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Mexico's starter will be 31-year old veteran Juan Pablo Oramas. The left-hander currently plays for Tabasco of the Mexican Baseball League (LMB).
- Japan won all three games against
Mexico in the Premier12. In 2015, they won 6-5 in the group stage and 11-1 in
the bronze medal game (in Tokyo). In 2019, they were victorious 3-1 in the
super round (in Tokyo).
- Japan recorded a 6-1 triumph
versus Mexico in the second round of the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
- Since baseball was first
introduced to the Olympic programme in 1992, Japan have won all three World Cup
games against Mexico: 8-6 in the 2003 first round, 15-3 in the 2007 first round
and 9-3 in the 2009 second round.
- Japan won their opening match at
these Olympic Games against Dominican Republic: 4-3. Japan erased a 3-1 deficit
in the bottom of the ninth inning.
- Yuki Yanagita and Masataka Yoshida
both had two hits and a walk against Dominican Republic.
- Mexico started their Olympic Games
campaign losing 1-0 to the Dominicans.
- Mexico are the only team without a
run scored at the 2020 Olympic Games.
United States - Korea (Group B)
Korea picked Young-pyo Ko to start their second game in the Olympics. The 29-year old right-hander is in his fourth Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season with the KT Wiz and has started 14 games for them in 2021.
The United States will hand the ball to former major leaguer Nick Martinez. The 30-year-old right-hander currently plays for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of NPB. He has started 11 games in the 2021 season.
- Korea won one of their four games
against United States at the Olympic Games, an 8-7 victory in the 2008 group
stage. Korea went on to win their first Olympic gold medal in baseball (USA
took bronze).
- Korea have lost more Olympic Games
versus United States (3) than against any other opponent. They lost twice
versus Australia and Cuba.
- United States defeated Korea twice
on their way to winning a gold medal at the Olympic Games in 2000: 4-0 in the
group stage and 3-2 in the semi-finals. Korea went on to claim bronze.
- The first Olympic game between
these teams was a 7-2 group stage victory for United States in 1996. USA went
on to win a bronze medal, while the Koreans finished eighth.
- Korea won the 2015 Premier12 by
defeating United States 8-0 in the final. USA had beaten the Koreans 3-2 after
10 innings in the group stage.
- Korea recorded a 5-1 win versus
United States in the super round of the Premier12 in 2019. Korea went on to
finish second (lost 5-3 to Japan in the final) and USA were fourth (lost 3-2 to
Mexico after 10 innings in the bronze medal game).
- United States won the 2007 World
Cup. Their run to the title included a 3-1 win against Korea in the
quarter-finals.
- United States started off their
Olympic Games beating Israel 8-1.
- Tyler Austin hit two doubles and a
home run against the Israeli. He produced two runs and three RBI.
- Eric Filia stole one base against
Israel. The only other base stealer in the Tokyo Games is Republic of Korea's
Oh Ji Hwan.
- Republic of Korea beat Israel in
10 innings on Thursday: 6-5.
- Oh Ji Hwan's slugging percentage
of 1.750 is a leading mark thus far at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
- Oh Seunghwan had five strikeouts
in two innings against Israel.
