Samurai Japan earned its second win ― its first since arriving in Taiwan ― through a hard-fought battle.
Slugger Sho Nakata hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth as Japan defeated Mexico 6―5 at Tien-Mou Stadium on Wednesday night in a first-round game of the Premier 12.
"We allowed (Mexico) to get closer to us, but we wound up winning it," Japan manager Hiroki Kokubo said after the game. "That’s what you want in the end. This is a valuable win for us."