Japan overcame a shaky start to beat the Netherlands 8-3 in the baseball tournament of the Athens Olympics on Monday for its second victory in as many games in the preliminary round.
Hirotoshi Ishii delivers a pitch against the Netherlands during Monday's game at the Olympic
Baseball Centre. Japan won 8-3.
Michihiro Ogasawara drew a bases-loaded walk to put Japan ahead 4-3 in the fifth inning and Atsushi Fujimoto hit a two-run homer in a four-run eighth that effectively put away the game at the Olympic Baseball Centre.
Hiroshima Carp right-hander Hiroki Kuroda pitched five scoreless innings in relief of Hisashi Iwakuma, who made an uncharacteristically rocky start and was chased after only 1 2/3 innings.