WBC: Czechs didn’t surprise Japan despite a solid start
Czechs stood on the field against WBSC ranking’s world #1 Japan on Saturday. The game, in which away team was a clear outsider was an event for ages for the entire community.
And it was Czechs who started in the offense in front of the sold out crowd in Tokyo Dome. Facing likely the biggest Japanese talent Roki Sasaki. However, it didn’t take the small country long to score their first run. First, Marek Chlup‚s hit to the left field got him to the second base, for him to reach the home base after an error caused by Martin Červenka’s contact. Czechs were suddenly winning 1-0.
Things got tight after Japan loaded the bases in the second inning. However, Satoria handled the situation, helped be the defense. Especially the third out throw from Filip Smola was far from easy.
Czechs got two runners on base in the third inning, but Sasaki controlled the rest of the inning and didn’t allow any of them to score. And it was the third inning we saw the game’s favorite to score for the first time. But not before an excellent defensive play from Martin Mužík.
Two Japanese players then reached base and scored their first run after a long hit to the left field thanks to Masataka Yoshida. A few pitches later, he himself reached the home base thanks to Tetsuto Yamada. Satoria reached 65 pitches limit and it is now clear the tournament is over for him.
New pitchers came in the fourth inning as both reached the limit. Before being substituted Sasaki’s pitch nastily hit Escala to the knee. Czech played the inning with Lukáš Hlouch. But it seemed new pitcher was more in line of what Japanese expected and after a series of hits, home team was 6-1 ahead. With only one out Jan Tomek stepped on the mound. He handled himself well and got the two outs his team needed, despite Japan scoring 7th run after a sacrificial flyout from Yoshida.
Fifth inning saw the second run from Czech team, after duo Vojtěch Menšík and Eric Sogard reached bases. The first one was then scored in thanks to Martin Červenka.
Tomek was substituted in the sixth inning and Tomáš Duffek came in for him. Duffed didn’t allow any runs for two innings and was then substituted by Filip Čapka who was welcomed by a solo homerun from Shugo Maki.
Japan got three more hitters on base and Filip Čapka got substituted without recording an out. It was up to Jake Rabinowitz to stop the world class opponent. He didn’t allow any hits and only allowed on run scored.
With the win Japan is certain to advance to the next phase. Czechs will play two more game, next one at 4am CET against South Korea.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | ||
| Czech Republic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | |
| Japan | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | x | 10 | 11 | 1 |
