With one runner on base, Japan infielder Yuka Agatsuma knocked the double to right field to score Yuu Nakamizo for the lone run in Game 3 that capped the 2023 Japan All-Star Series against World No.1 United States at Yokohama Stadium on Monday.
The duel between the two starting pitchers – USA’s Valerie Cagle and Japan’s Kiyu Goto - only lasted for an inning and a half, as Japan scored the game’s decisive run that also marked the World No. 2 and host's second win in the three-game series against the world’s top-ranked programme.
In the bottom of the second inning, Cagle got the first two outs on Hitomi Kawabata and Ayane Nakagawa, but those sequence plays also allowed Nakamizo move two bases. Agatsuma’s hit gave way for Nakamizo to reach home and score 1-0 before the third out on a touch out.
The succeeding frames went scoreless and saw pitching changes on both sides. Cagle was relieved by NiJaree Canady after 2.1 innings, while Goto played 4.1 innings before handing the ball to Yukiko Ueno to close the game.
Prior to the series clincher on Monday, Team USA opened the series with a thrilling 12-11 victory in extras on 4 August at Kizuma Stadium in Iwakuni, with the visiting side tallying 17 hits.
Canady, making her debut in the USA uniform, started in the series opener before temporarily handing duties to Meylan in the bottom of the fifth and Cagle in the bottom of the sixth before coming back for the final seven outs of the game. The three USA pitchers retired 10 batters with Canady leading the team with seven strikeouts and five scoreless innings.
Nine USA batters recorded at least one hit in the win, while five of them recorded a multi-hit game. Megan Grant led USA at the plate, hitting 4-of-6, including two singles and two home runs.
In Game 2, the hosts bounced back with a 6-1 win to even the series at 1-1 in front of 4,000 fans at Azuma Stadium in Fukushima on 6 August.
USA’s offence struggled against Japan, with only Hannah
Gammill and Erin Coffel able to get two hits and a solo hit from Jada Cody.
Japan took an early lead in the top of the first and held on
to it until the bottom of the third. USA levelled the score on a leadoff double
from Gammill paired with an RBI single from Coffel.
Japan dismantled the American defence and jumped to a 3-1
lead in the top of the fourth after a pair of base hits and a fielder’s choice.
Japan extended the lead to 6-1 in the top of the fifth and implemented good
defence as they closed the game with no further runs from their rivals.
