USA – Japan 8-4
JPN 103 000 000 4 6 1 USA 013 040 00X 8 9 0
Team USA won the bronze medal at the Baseball tournament in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. They scored four runs in the fifth to defeat Japan 8-4. It was their second victory against the Asian team in a week.
Japan actually started and stronger and took a 1-0 and a 4-1 lead in the first and third innings on a solo homerun by Masahiro Araki and a three-run shot by Norichika Aoki. But the Americans countered with homeruns by themselves. Matt LaPorta’s solo shot tied the contest in the second and Matt Brown with a three-run homer in the third.
Two frames later they decided the outcome. Taylor Teagarden came through with a two-run double to put Team USA 5-3 in front. Jason Donald followed with a two-run homerun. Japan had a last chance in the ninth, when they put runners on second and third with two outs, but a groundout to first by Shinnosuke Abe ended the match and the Olympic Games for the two squads.
Oakland Athletics prospect Brett Anderson (W 1-0) pitched seven solid innings to pick up the win. He gave up four hits, four runs and three walks, while striking out six. Kevin Jepsen closed it out to seal the medal.
Tsuyoshi Wada (JPN) gave up three hits, four runs (3 ER) and three base on balls in 2 2/3 innings. Kenshin Kawakami (L 0-1) replaced him and took the loss. Yoshihisa Naruse (five k’s in two innings pitched) and Yu Darvish also appeared in the game.
