25/07/2021 2 Minute Read

Yamada walk-off RBI sends Japan to Olympic gold medal game

Japan will meet USA in the Tokyo 2020 gold medal game on Tuesday, setting up a rematch of the 2008 Beijing Games.

Two-time Olympic medallist Eri Yamada delivered a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the eighth inning for a 1-0 walk-off win over Canada, which clinched host nation and defending Olympic champions Japan a spot in the gold medal game. The win ensures Japan (4-0) will finish no lower than second place at the conclusion of tomorrow's opening round.

Japan's win over Canada also sent USA (4-0) into the gold medal game, setting up a rematch of the Beijing 2008 Gold Medal Game, where Japan topped USA, 3-1. Japan and USA will meet on Monday in each team's final opening round game, with the winner granted home team.

Veteran superstar Yukiko Ueno started for Japan and pitched six scoreless inning, surrendering 4 hits while getting 4 strikeouts. In the top of the seventh, Ueno was replaced by the left hander Miu Goto, who struck out all six batters she faced to earn the shutout win

Sara Groenewegen pitched the first three frames for Canada, and then was relieved by Jenna Caira, who tossed 1.1 inning. They combined for 3 hits and 2 strikeouts, with 2 walks.

Danielle Lawrie took the ball in the fifth inning, and escaped a bases loaded situation in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings. Eri Yamada started the inning with a single to center field, and moved to second by a sacrifice. A defensive error by Janet Leung put runners on the corners, and head coach Mark Smith intentionally walked Nodoka Harada to load the bases. Immediately after, Yuka Ichiguchi lined out to second base for the second out of the inning. Lawrie then forced Minori Naito to pop up to first base to send the game into extra innings.

In the bottom of the eighth, with a runner on second base for the tie-break rule, Yu Yamamoto sacrificed to move the runner 60 feet, and Smith loaded the bases again trying to force the play at home plate. Yamada, who had hit safely only once in the tournament, then hit a line drive to center field to end the game. It was her third hit of the day.

The gold medal game on Tuesday will be Japan’s third time in the final. They won the silver medal in Sydney 2000 and the gold medal in Beijing 2008. Both times the rival was USA.