Global Baseball Games: Japan adds one run in

World No. 1 Japan and Team Europe took the field for the second game of the CARNEXT SAMURAI JAPAN SERIES.

Before the game, WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari welcomed the European Union Ambassador to Japan Jean-Éric Paquet, to the Kyocera Dome.

Makoto Hiejima is a Japanese professional basketball player for Utsunomiya Brex of the Japanese B.League

With runners at second and first and no one out, Alex Liddi helped Europe escape a possible first-inning jam by starting a smooth double play on a slow chopper to third by Shota Morishita.

Japan took the lead in the top of the second. Left fielder Shunsuke Tamura reached on a hard grounder to third and outran Europe's defence to second. He reached third on a groundout and scored on catcher Kuudai Yamamoto sacrifice fly.

Lars Huijer took over for Solbach on Europe's mound in the top of the third.

Japan's starter, Yumeto Kanemaru, also lasted two innings. The left-hander didn't leave Europe a chance, getting four of the six outs on strikes. Yuto Nakamura took the mound.

Europe handed the ball to Tiago Da Silva in the top of the fifth. Three Japanese pitchers, Yuto Nakamura, Shinya Matsuyama and Shota Nakamura, took care of Europe through the fifth.

Tamura reached with a base hit to the opposite field against Sven Schueller, Europe's fourth pitcher, in the top of the sixth. After a video review, he was called out at second, caught stealing.

In the bottom of the seventh, centre fielder Misho Nishikava made an impressive diving catch that literally robbed Delano Selassa of an extra-base hit.

Japan scored their second run in the top of the eighth. With one out, pinch hitter Chusei Mannami reached on a double. Baez walked Kozono and left. Matteo Bocchi worked a quick second out, and Europe's defence couldn't handle Kurebayashi's hard grounder. Chunnami scored from second.

JAPAN 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1
EUROPE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

JAPAN CF Misho Nishikawa (1-for-2), DH Kensuke Kondoh (Yasutaka Shiomi 0-1), RF Shota Morishita (1-2; Chusei Mannami 1-1), 3B Muretaka Murakami (0-2; Kaito Kozono 0-2), LF Shunsuke Tamura (1-4), SS Kotaro Kurebayashi (0-2), 2B Takumu Nakano (1-1), C Yuudai Yamamoto (0-1; Yuto Koga 0-1), 1B Takaya Ishikava (0-2).
PITCHERS Yumeto Kanemaru IP 4, K 2, BB 0, H 0, ER 0; Yuto Nakamura IP 1, K 0, BB 0, ER 0; Shinya Matsuiama IP 1, K 1, BB 0, H 0, ER 0; Shota Watanabe IP 1, K 2, BB 0, H 0, ER 0; Chichiro Sumida IP 2, K 3, BB 0, H 0, ER 0; Taneiki Atsuki IP, K, BB, H, ER;

EUROPE RF Delano Selassa (0-for-3), CF Marek Chlup (0-3), 3B Alex Liddi (0-3), DH Martin Cervenka (0-3), LF Daniel Jimenez (0-2; Engel Beltre 0-1), C Gabriel Lino (0-2; PH Ricardo Paolini 0-1; C Alberto Mineo), 2B Sharlon Schoop (0-2), 1B Marek Muzik (0-2), SS Edison Valerio (0-2).
PICHERS Markus Solbach IP 2, K 0, BB 2, H 1, ER 0; Lars Huijer IP 2, K 2, BB 1, H 2, ER 0; Tiago Da Silva IP 1, K 2, BB 0, H 0, ER 0; Sven Schueller IP 1, K 1, BB 1, H 1, ER 0; Fernando Baez IP 1.1, K 1, BB 1, H 1. ER 0; Matteo Bocchi IP 0.2, K 0, BB 0, H 0, ER 0; KEvin Kelly IP, K, BB, H, ER.

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The pre-event press conference