No. 1
ranked Japan (1-0) open their WBSC Premier12 Super Round campaign with a
matchup against no. 7 ranked Australia (0-1) at ZOZO Marine Stadium in Chiba
City, Japan.
Japan enter
the game with a perfect Opening Round record, after wins against Chinese
Taipei, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Since trailing 4-2 after seven innings
against Venezuela in the Opening Round, Japan’s pitching staff has been
near-perfect, conceding one run in 20 innings since.
Australia
came into the final day of the Opening Round with an 0-2 record, but a dramatic
victory over Canada and a Cuba’s defeat secured their place in the Super Round.
Logan Wade’s two-run triple in the eighth inning proved decisive, as Australia
claimed a 3-1 win.
The last
meeting between Australia and Japan at senior level international play came
during the opening round of the 2017 World Baseball Classic, as Japan claimed a
4-1 win at the Tokyo Dome.
Australia
has not defeated Japan at senior level international play since a 5-0 second
round victory at the 2009 World Cup.
Seiya
Suzuki has been outstanding for Japan, leading the tournament in RBI (9), and
co-leading the stolen bases (2) and home run (2) categories.
Steven Kent
made two strong relief appearances for Australia in the opening round, striking
out seven and now allowing an earned run in 5.1 innings of work.
First pitch from ZOZO Marine Stadium is at 19:00 JST on Monday 11 November, with starting pitchers set to be named at the Super Round press conference on Sunday 10 November..