TOKYO — The Samurai Japan National Team only needed seven innings to knock out Mexico, 11-1, in the bronze medal final of the first-ever WBSC Premier12 Saturday afternoon in front of a crowd of more than 40,000.
After a stinging loss to South Korea Thursday night in the semifinals, Samurai Japan erupted for five home runs Saturday, capped off by Shogo Akiyama’s 2-run homerun in the 7th inning, which ended the game due to the 10-run mercy rule.
Japan built an 8-0 lead in the first two innings, led by two home runs by Tetsuto Yamada and two 2-run home runs by Sho Nakata and Nobuhiro Matsuda.
Mexico’s lone run came in the 6th inning when Juan Perez hit a solo home run off Japan relief pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano. Sugano earned the win for his three innings of relief, following Shota Takeda’s near-perfect first three innings.
The Samurai Japan National Team will be awarded $US 400,000 for the third-place finish, while Mexico will take home $US 300,000.
