The international baseball tournament “Asia Professional Baseball Championship” began, and the Japanese national team defeated Taiwan 4-0 thanks to a home run by Hanshin’s Shota Morishita, marking the first game under Hirokazu Ibata as manager with a win.
The “Asia Professional Baseball Championship” will begin on the 16th at Tokyo Dome, with four teams from Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Australia competing with representative members made up mainly of young players.
The tournament will begin with a round-robin qualifying round, with the top two teams advancing to the finals.
The Japan national team, led by coach Ibata, will play in this tournament for the first time, taking on Taiwan in the first round of the qualifying league.
Japan’s batting lineup struggled against the opponent’s starting pitcher, and they could not get a single runner out until the 5th inning, but in the 6th inning, with one out, Giants’ Makoto Kadowaki hit two bases, marking his first hit, and in the 7th inning. Hanshin’s Morishita, who came in at number three, took the lead with a solo home run.
Giants pitcher Yushi Akahoshi, who started and pitched, pitched until the middle of the fifth inning, allowing only three hits and no runs, and after that, three pitchers relayed and did not allow a run until the eighth inning.
In the 9th inning, Hiroshima’s Shogo Sakakura scored three runs with a timely hit, and in the end, Yakult’s pitcher Reito Taguchi kept them scoreless, giving Japan a 4-0 win.
Coach Ibata won his first game after taking over.
The tournament will run until the 19th, and Japan will play against South Korea in the second round of the qualifying league on the 17th.
Hanshin’s Shota Morishita, who hit the leadoff solo home run in the 7th inning, said, “I was able to hit it solidly with the center of the ball, so I thought I’d improve from the rest. I’m glad I got in.”
He also participated in the Japan Series this season, and based on his experience in short-term decisive battles, he said, “I think being able to compete well on the big stage is my strength as an experience. I want to do my best to pass the top spot.”
Giants pitcher Yushi Akahoshi, who started the game, said about the scoreless game in the fifth inning, “I had information that the opposing pitcher was good, so I was determined to keep it scoreless.”
When asked what catcher Shogo Sakakura said to him in the fourth inning when he was in a pinch with two outs on first and second base, he answered, “When he told me, “Let’s compete in the strike zone,” he said, “He told me, “Let’s compete in the strike zone,” and that made me want to open up and pitch. I was able to do it,” he recalled.
He then said, “I want to support them with all my might for the remaining three games.”
Coach Hirokazu Ibata of the Japan national team, who scored a win in their first game, said in the post-game press conference, “I’m very relieved that we won.The atmosphere was heavy from the beginning, but the pitchers persevered and we were able to lead to the victory.” ”, he praised the five pitchers who held Taiwan’s batting lineup to zero points.
Regarding Hanshin Shota Morishita, who hit the leadoff solo home run in the 7th inning, 0-0, he said, “He caught the first pitch after the runner failed to steal base, and with one swing, he changed the bad atmosphere, and in the 9th inning, he hit the first pitch. Their attack started with Morishita’s hit, so they were amazing in terms of creating chances.”
He added, “Today was the first match, so it was difficult for me to play as usual, but from tomorrow onwards I will be able to relax into the game and be in my best condition.In the match against South Korea, I will attack from the beginning so as not to get overwhelmed. I want to go,” he said enthusiastically.
2023-11-16 15:13:29
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