Japan rebounded from Sunday’s loss to Team USA with a 10-0 shutout to open day four at the Women’s Baseball World Cup in Edmonton, Canada. On Monday morning at Telus Field the defending world baseball champion scored four runs in the first and in four of the five innings en route to a ten-run rule shortened victory. For Cuba it was the fourth loss in the fourth game.
The star was Japan’s right-hander Yukari Isozaki. The starting pitcher allowed just four hits and a walk in five scoreless innings, pitching a complete game. She also hit a batter and struck out four, facing just 19 batters. At the plate Japan was led by one of the five professional players on the team, Iori Miura. The center fielder went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Ayako Rokkaku scored three times. Yuki Kawabata collected three hits and scored twice.
Yanet Martinez was charged the loss, surrendering four hits, four runs (2 ER) and two base on balls, lasting only two outs in the first inning. Afterwards Ana Castellanos did a great job, keeping Cuba in the game with a solid 3 1/3 innings relief outing. However the Caribbean offense couldn’t do anything at the plate to turn the score around.
