Japan 000 014 401 10 13 2 Curacao 001 000 000 1 2 2
Japan used a pair of four-run rallies in the sixth and the seventh to beat Curacao 10-1 in the opener of the Honkbalweek Haarlem on Friday evening. Tatsuhiko Satoh and Yoshikazu Kutsukake hit home runs for Team Nippon. Akihiro Yamamoto drove in three. Luis Veloz scored the lone run for Curacao.
Takuya Kato struck out nine batters in five innings, allowing just one hit, an unearned run and three base on balls to pick up the win. Four relievers followed to complete a two-hitter. Raydel Isabella got charged with the loss, conceding five hits, five runs (4 ER) and four base on balls in five innings.
The 28th edition of the Honkbalweek continues on Saturday with two games at Pim Mulier Stadium. At 2pm Australia faces Chinese Taipei, at 7pm the Netherlands square off against Curacao.