The 27th Haarlemse Honkbalweek started on Friday evening in front of an estimated 1,200 and 20 scouts from MLB organizations at Pim Mulier Stadium in Haarlem, Netherlands. Japan shut out Team USA 1-0 behind a strong performance of Yuki Yoshida.
MVP of the Game Yoshida kept the US squad hitless through seven-plus innings and left under a standing ovation in the eighth. He gave up a hit and four walks in 7 1/3 frames, while striking out seven. Yusuaki Yamasaki closed it out with 1 2/3 innings of hitless relief.
Takuya Sato scored the lone run in the top of the sixth on a RBI single by Shogo Nakamura. Otherwise American pitchers James Kaprielian, Jake Lemoine and Tyler Jay matched the great performance by the Japanese pitchers.
Two games are on the schedule on Saturday. Japan squares off with Chinese Taipei in the afternoon. The Netherlands enter the tournament against the USA in the evening.