Samurai Japan disappointed its home crowd in a stunning semifinal loss to South Korea two days previously. But the Premier 12 cohost bounced back with an 11-1 rout of Mexico in the third-place game on Saturday at Tokyo Dome.
Japan's leadoff hitter, Shogo Akiyama, smacked a two-run homer into the right-field bleachers in the bottom of the seventh inning to end the contest on the tournament's mercy rule.
"It was a difficult game to play for us (after the tough loss in the semifinals), but our players cleared their heads and played well. And it was good to see that we finished the tournament in a better fashion," Japan manager Hiroki Kokubo said after the game.