When it's time to really get down to the serious business of getting outs, you have to turn to your ace in the hole. The man with control.
Japan hurler Koji Uehara stretches during a training session in Anaheim.
That's exactly what Sadaharu Oh has in mind in sending Yomiuri Giants right-hander Koji Uehara to the mound to do battle against San Diego Padres righty Jake Peavy as Team Japan prepares to play the United States in Pool 1 of the second round on Sunday.
In his start against China in the first round, Uehara allowed a two-run homer and seven hits in five innings while throwing 53 of 65 pitches for strikes. But that was against an opponent in its baseball infancy.