Suzuki sends Japan to victory with 10th-inning grand slam
For the second straight night, a hit by Shohei Otani led to a six-run inning that helped Japan erase a large deficit. As was also the case the first time, Japan and the Netherlands took things into extra innings, where the tiebreaker rule used ...
Kokubo's preparation pays off in Japan's first experience with WBC tiebreaker
Samurai Japan manager Hiroki Kokubo checked one more item off his to-do list Saturday night: play an extra-inning tiebreaker like he might encounter in next March's World Baseball Classic. "That was a first for us," Kokubo said after his team came from behind twice to ...
Ono lifts Japan with sayonara single in 10th
The game was supposed to only be a dress rehearsal for next year's World Baseball Classic. But the atmosphere during the ninth inning at Tokyo Dome made it feel a whole lot like the real thing. A game of late, wild momentum shifts finally settled ...
Mexico, Netherlands exhibit pride, passion in preparation for 2017 World Baseball Classic
Samurai Japan is determined to recapture the title at next spring's World Baseball Classic. But the national team will have to endure a tougher challenge to accomplish than goal than before as other countries have now gotten more eager to win as well. Mexico and ...
Otani, Akiyama shine as Samurai Japan trounces Mexico in rematch
Shohei Otani has already shown what he can do on the international level with his arm. On Friday night at Tokyo Dome, he got the opportunity to take his cuts at the plate. Otani had a pair of hits and stole a base, while Shogo ...
Mexico outplays Japan in exhibition series opener
There's one big positive Japan can take out of the opening game of the 2016 Samurai Japan Challenge, which is meant to help the team prepare for the 2017 World Baseball Classic. At least this wasn't the real thing. Mexico scored two runs to break a ...
One of the major topics of speculation among political observers nowadays is what course of action former internal affairs minister Kunio Hatoyama will take following his revolt against Prime Minister Taro Aso. He will have to make up his mind soon now that the ...
Ranking officials at the Foreign Ministry appear more preoccupied with presenting Prime Minister Taro Aso as dexterous at diplomacy than promoting the national interest. One official has confided that it is now their turn to return the favor given to them when Aso was ...
