Shota Onodera’s masterpiece sends Japan into the Super Round

Shota Onodera tossed 106 pitches in a complete-game effort to give Japan a 2-0 win against Venezuela that secured a Super Round spot for the Asian champions. Japan scored one in the second inning and one in the sixth.

Onodera recorded his second complete-game of the tournament, a two-hit masterpiece with 10 strikeouts and three walks with no runs alllowed. 

Japan used three singles in the first inning to score the first run of the game. Ryuji Okawa drove in Yoshinari Matsumoto to put the score 1-0. 

Venezuela had a great scoring oportunity in the sixth inning, whe they loaded the bases on two walks and a fielder’s choice. But Onodera escaped by striking out Davinson Guevara to hold the one-run lead.

In the bottom of the sixth, Japan scored an insurance run on a line-drive double to the right field fence, to plate Ayumu Nishimori, who was standing at first base after a walk. 

With the win, Japan improved their record to 4-0 and secured a spot in the Super Round. Venezuela evened again their record at 2-2, and tomorrow will close the Opening Round against Team WBSC.