Japan and Mexico split a two-game exhibition series at the Tokyo Dome on Thursday and Friday. Samurai Japan now will face the Netherlands for two games on Saturday and Sunday. Both series are warm-up games for Japan ahead of the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
On Thursday Mexico prevailed 7-3 over Japan. Amadeo Zazuzeta broke up a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning with a single making it a 4-2 game. Esteban Quiroz hit a solo home run. Rafael Martin picked up the win, Kodai Senga took the loss.
On Friday Japan celebrated an 11-4 victory over Mexico. Superstar Shohei Otani, who only had a pinch hit appearance in the Thursday matchup, scored three of the first four runs for Japan the next day. Shogo Akiyama drove in two. Japhet Amador went deep for Mexico. Akira Nakamura hit a home run off Sergio Romo in the ninth.