Takahiro Arai ignited a five-run first inning with an RBI triple and Hideaki Wakui threw a one-hitter over six innings Saturday as Japan opened its Olympic qualifying campaign with a 10-0 shutout of the Philippines.
Right-handed pitcher Hideaki Wakui of the Seibu Lions fires a pitch against the Philippines in Japan's
first game at the final round of the Beijing Olympic qualifiers in Taichung, Taiwan, on Saturday night.
Japan won 10-0 in a called game.
KYODO PHOTOArai tripled off the center-field wall with two outs and a runner on third and Shinnosuke Abe followed with a single to put Japan on the way to the rout in a game called after seven innings due to the tournament's 10-run mercy rule.
Atsunori Inaba hit a solo homer in the fifth and added an RBI single in a four-run sixth after Senichi Hoshino's team was held scoreless over three innings by Jon-Jon Robles (0-1).