Preview: Suzuki and Japan await Team Australia in Chiba

Preview: Suzuki and Japan await Team Australia in Chiba
09/11/2019
The WBSC Premier12 2019 Super Round gets underway on Monday 11 November with two games from ZOZO Marine Stadium, and one game from the Tokyo Dome.

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..