Ryosuke Kikuchi led Japan to an 8-4 comeback win over Venezuela in their WBSC Premier12 opener on Tuesday, driving in a pair of runs and scoring another in a 3-for-4 outing.

The 2020 Olympic Games hosts entered the eighth inning at Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium trailing 4-2 but turned the tables with a six-run frame against the flagging Venezuelan bullpen.

With the bases loaded, right-hander Anthony Vizcaya walked Kensuke Kondo for the go-ahead run after Kikuchi tied things up with a single to score Hiroshima Carp teammate Yoshihiro Maru.