Japan manager Atsunori Inaba professed his belief in shortstop Hayato Sakamoto, even as the star infielder struggled at the plate during the Premier12.
With Japan looking to bounce back from its first loss of the tournament and facing undefeated Mexico, Sakamoto was back in a familiar spot in the lineup and finally looking a little like his old self again.
Sakamoto broke out of a slump with a three-hit night, Shota Imanaga struck out eight and Samurai Japan dealt Mexico its first loss of the Premier12 with a 3-1 win in the Super Round on Wednesday night at Tokyo Dome.