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Premier12, First Round, Pool B: USA – Japan 2-10
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Japan scored four runs in the sixth and five in the seventh to down Team USA 10-2 at the Premier12 at Taoyuan Stadium in Taiwan. It was the fourth win in as many games for Samurai Japan to remain the second undefeated team in the tournament besides Canada. The United States fell to 2-2 in Pool B.
Matt McBride and Bret Eibner had put the US ahead 2-0 with a solo home run in the second and a RBI single in the third. Yoshitomo Tsutsugo tied the game for Japan with a RBI single in the fourth and a RBI double in the sixth. Sho Nakata capped the four-run rally with a three-run home run. In the seventh Tsutsugo added a RBI single and Nobuhiro Matsuda followed with a grand slam to blow the score wide open.
In the beginning American starter Jarrett Grube had kept Nippon in check, allowing five hits and a run in five innings. However the bullpen with Seth Simmons, former Major Leaguer Dana Eveland and Cody Satterwhite faltered. Tomoyuki Sugano conceded five hits, two runs and three base on balls in four innings to start for Japan. Takahiro Norimoto received the win in relief.
Japan is now facing Venezuela in their last first-round matchup on Sunday. Team USA takes on South Korea in a meeting of two 2-2 teams.