Shota Onodera pitches complete game as Japan outlast Team WBSC in Day 1

Team WBSC outhit Japan 8-5 in Game 3 of the WBSC U-23 Men’s Softball World Cup but could not take the win. Right-handed pitcher Shota Onodera limited Team WBSC to two runs, keeping his team in the game and allowing the Asian squad to escape with a 5-2 victory. 

Japan took a two-run lead in the first two innings on a pair of grounders in the first and second innings. They used only one hit to score both runs.

Team WBSC recovered and tied the game in the second part of the game. The Central Americans reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the fifth with an RBI double by Nery Del Cid. And one inning later, Henry Castillo tripled to left field and scored on a sacrifice fly to short right field with a great slide at home plate to tie the game.

However, Japan answered quickly in the bottom of the sixth with a three-run rally to take a decisive 5-2 lead. Koki Sato was clutch with a go-ahead RBI single up the middle.

Onodera allowed eight hits and two runs in seven innings of work, while striking out nine opponents to take the win. The loss was charged to Juan Diego Morales, who left the game after 5.1 innings, giving up five hits and five runs with four Ks.