TAPEI CITY – First baseman Sho Nakata provided his second game-winning RBI in as many nights to lift Japan’s National Team over the Dominican Republic, 4-2, at Taoyuan Stadium in Day 5 of the 2015 WBSC Premier12.
After Dominican Republic shortstop Ronny Rodriguez blasted a 2-run home run off of Yasuhiro Ogawa in the seventh inning to tie the game 2-2, Nakata answered in the bottom of the eighth with a 2-run double down the left field line inning to put Japan ahead,4-2.
2013 U-18 Baseball World Cup star Yuki Matsui pitched the final inning to earn the save and secure the win for Japan.
With the win, Japan remains on top of Group B with a 3-0 record, while Dominican Republic has dropped to 0-3.
Dominican Republic actually outhit Japan (eight hits to five), including five hits against Samurai starter Shota Takeda.
In Japan’s first three games of the Premier12, Nakata is 7-for-11, and has eight RBI, the most of tournament.
Japan is the only undefeated nation in Group B, and will face the U.S. National Team on Saturday, while the Dominican Republic will meet Venezuela.
