The Netherlands and Japan don’t solely rest prior to the final round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Both teams are playing two exhibition games apiece against MLB Teams in Arizona before traveling to San Francisco for the semi-finals.
On Thursday the Dutch team beat the San Diego Padres 9-3. Jurickson Profar was in the lineup for the first time, as he replaces the injured Yurendell de Caster on the roster. Roger Bernadina and Wladimir Balentien also returned after minor injuries. Andruw Jones homered. Xander Bogaerts scored three times and drove in two. Jonathan Schoop also had two RBI. Diegomar Markwell, Rob Cordemans, Orlando Yntema, Mark Pawelek, Leon Boyd and Loek van Mil did the pitching.
Japan meanwhile had an encounter with the reigning World Series champion San Francisco Giants. Team Samurai prevailed 6-3. Sho Nakata led the way, going 3-for-4 with two runs and a RBI. Shinnosuke Abe had two hits and a RBI. Eight pitchers took the mound for Japan with Masahiro Tanaka getting the start and the win. The Giants had Pablo Sandoval and Marco Scutaro in the lineup, which were eliminated from the World Baseball Classic playing for Venezuela.
On Friday the Netherlands will square off with the Seattle Mariners in Peoria, while Japan takes on the Chicago Cubs in Mesa.