WBC IGT Japan v. Mexico (3/14)

[Guest Rotblatt]

Top of the third, 0-0.

Japan got runners at first and second and made Ichiro bunt them over. I hate small ball. Nishioka ground out to the pitcher--I wonder if it was a suicide squeeze? At any rate, Loaiza threw to Castilla to get the out.

Why isn't this game on TV?

[Guest Rotblatt]

I've got it up on my computer now. Matsunake is dealing. His control and stuff look better than his last start.

Fukudome made an out somehow to end the Japanese threat at the top of the inning. He's had a miserable series so far, but Oh is sticking with him in the 3 hole.

Whoa! What was that! A wicked slider with a nasty break. Outside and low but it was vicious. Was it the mythic gyroball?

[Guest Rotblatt]

Oh. It was lag time on the computer.

Sigh.

Still, Matsunaka looks G-O-O-D.

[metirish]

It's on UPN 9.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Runners on 1st & 2nd again for Tamura, another hot hitter. Again, the fucking sac bunt.

He almost beat it out.

[Guest Rotblatt]

metirish wrote: It's on UPN 9.

Really? I thought they were showing the DR.

Sweet!

And it's a 2-run single into left for Ogasawara!

[metirish]

Yeah my guide says they are but ESPN2 is showing the DR game, this scire is not good for the USA as Dave O'Brien pointed out.

[metirish]

And it gets worse, a two run A-Bomb from Japan makes it 4 zip.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Satozaki, who had only 10 HR last year, with an opposite field shot to give Japan a 4-0 lead.

on edit: I'm trying out some kabooms here. Bear with me.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Matsuzaka set em down in order.

Fukodome with a dribbler for a single. Matsunaka with a single but Fukudome cut down at third by Mario Venezuela. Iwamura ground out and Matsunaka out at 2nd. Juan Castro with a throwing error and Iwamura made it to second. Iwamura stole third, then Tamura with a single into center to expand the lead to 5-0.

Ogasaware K's on a foul tip.

[Guest Rotblatt]

Matsuzaka got one out, gave up a walk, then Mario Venezuela erased it on a DP.

5 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K for Matzunaka so far. He's at 73 pitches.

[Guest Rotblatt]

The game is over, and Japan wins in convincing fashion, 6-1.

Never in doubt. Japanese pitching allowed only 6 baserunners through 9 innings--the only run on an Ojeda dinger off of Chiba Lotte Yabuta.

Otsuka closed it out. He gave up a leadoff walk then Castilla reached on an error but Otsuka got Durazo to pop it up, then Luis Garcia ground into a DP to end the game.

Japan needs to beat Korea tomorrow to advance. If they do so and allow fewer than 6 runs, Japan will move on, and Team America will be eliminated. If they allow 6 or more runs, Team America will advance with a win over Mexico.