Baseball Canada – OKINAWA, Japan –The Canadian Men’s Baseball Team used a six-run second inning and hung on to defeat world No. 1 ranked Japan, 6-5, in game one of the ENEOS SAMURAI JAPAN SERIES, a two-game exhibition series in preparation for the upcoming World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12.
“Anytime we take the field we want to win so to do so against a quality team like Japan is a bonus for us,” said Canadian Manager Ernie Whitt following the game. “To have the opportunity to play Japan, one of the top teams in the world, and compete with them and beat them is quite pleasing.”
After a scoreless first inning Canada got to Japan starting pitcher Shun Yamaguchi in the second inning sending 11 men to the plate and using four hits including a three-run double off the bat of Eric Wood to jump out to a 6-0 lead.
Jordan Lennerton (Langley, BC) got things going with single to left to score Michael Saunders (Victoria, BC) before Rene Tosoni (Port Coquitlam, BC) walked with the bases loaded and Dalton Pompey (Mississauga, ON) contributed an RBI single to right field to put Canada up by three.