Japan have no weakness, beat Puerto Rico and stay on top of WBSC U-23 World
World No. 1 Japan shut out No. 10 Puerto, 5-0, in the World Championship Final and confirmed on the top of the U-23 World, claiming the WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup 2024. It's the third U-23 World Title for Samurai Japan, after 2016 and 2022.
Japan scored in the top of the first thanks to an aggressive approach by the top of the batting order.
"We wanted to hit our pitch," commented manager Tomoyasu Kawaguchi through an interpreter. "So if that [offering] came on the first pitch, we wanted our players to swing and stay in their comfort zone. We thought that was the best way to accomplish our goal.
Japan lost the first game against Puerto Rico, allowing six runs. They allowed five through the rest of the tournament, never more than one per game.
"After losing in our debut against Puerto Rico we worked a lot to improve out mental approach. We came here to win, this was out goal from the beginning and fortunately we succeeded."
Japan's pitchers Kosei Nagakubo and Kosuke Sasamori impressed with their control.
"Puerto Rico's hitters have a lot of power and will be aggressive if you try to overpower them and won't hesitate to go after fastball first pitches. We thought a finesse approach would be more effective. Our pitchers tried to target their weak spots."
"I'm a competitor," said through an interpreter Nagakubo. "I also rely a lot on my control."
Nagakubo allowed one walk over 11 innings during the tournament
"I was impressed by the level of the international players," he added. "I saw a lot of power hitters."
Nagakubo, a former collegiate player, is now focused on his Industrial League Team.
"My only goal is winning a National Championship for NTT East."
"The Industrial Leagues represent the baseball of our tradition," said manager Tomoyasu. "All these players have a fair chance to compete at the NPB level soon, but for now, they want to win a National Championship. This is what they work hard for."
"You've got to credit Japan," added on a finale note Puerto Rico's centre fielder Edgardo Vilegas. "Their defence did good plays and their pitching was there. We hit the ball hard. I think we didn't have luck today. We also committed a couple of errors in the first inning. But credit to Japan, they play hard and deserved it."
Japan didn't waste time getting to Puerto Rico's starter, Luis Rivera. Takuya Yamada singled on the first pitch of the game. The two following Japanese batters also reached base. Japan took the lead when Puerto Rico failed to get the force out at second on a grounder by Takanori Takahashi to second, allowing Yamada to score from third. Ryo Imazato scored the second run when Kaito Yoshikawa beat the throw at first and avoided an inning-ending double play.
Puerto Rico also opened with a hit. Edgardo Villegas singled on the first pitch he saw from Kosei Nagakubo. On the second offering, Randal Diaz grounded into a double play.
Japan's defence starred again in the bottom of the third. Third baseman Takanori Takahashi prevented a run when he dove to stop a hard grounder by Edrick Felix with runners at second and first. He got the force out at second base to record the second out.
The defending U-23 World Champions extended the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth when Shinnosuke Nishimura got to the first offering by reliever Shadai Colon with an RBi-single.
Puerto Rico handed the ball to Lucas Vega, but Japan struck again on the first pitch with Kenta Aiba's RBI single, extending the lead to 4-0.
Yuichiro Murakami sent Japan to the bottom of the seventh with a 5-0 lead with a sacrifice fly.
Kosuke Sasamori took care of the last three innings. In the bottom of the seventh, Puerto Rico put the leadoff hitter on base thanks to a single by Luis Hernandez. With pinch-runner Jandiel Feliciano at first, Sasamori got Gilberto Torres to ground into a double play and ended the Final by striking out Laracuente after an eight-pitch duel.
