Japan Secures Fourth Game Against Korea

In all of the international tournaments Cuba has entered, it had never finished lower than third. Tonight, Japan reminded us all of the old adage, "there's a first time for everything."

A key error and a bevy of walks from Cuban pitching sealed their doom as Japan rode the superb pitching of the 2008 Sawamura Award winner Hisashi Iwakuma to a win at PETCO Park to secure Japan's spot in the single-elimination semi-finals against Korea. Cuba, on the other hand, is eliminated from the World Baseball Classic tournament for the second time in a row by Japan.

Iwakuma was very effective over 6 innings, giving up 5 hits, walking one and striking out 2 while snuffing out Cuban rallies. Twice Cuba got runners to 3rd, and both times Iwakuma slammed the door shut. Toshiya Sugiuchi then came on to keep the door barred in the 7th, 8th, and 9th, striking out 3 batters in 3 no-hit innings.

The offensive star of the night for Japan was Norichika Aoki, who was 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and 3 singles. He drove in insurance runs in both the 5th inning and the 9th after an Ichiro triple. Aside from that, the offense was intermittent for Japan. Not quite consistent, the Japanese struggled for offense, but their big break came in the 4th inning.

Cuban center fielder Yoennis Cespedes took his eyes off a long fly ball to PETCO Park's cavernous center field by Michihiro Ogasawara and subsequently dropped it, allowing two Japanese baserunners to score. Cuban pitchers also had a devil of a time with the Japanese lineup. More patient than their opponents, Japan drew six walks from Cuban pitching, while the only walk Japan surrendered was the one from Iwakuma.

This loss is historic for Cuba in that they have not failed to make an international baseball tournament final since the 1951 International Baseball Federation World Cup. In four major international tournaments (World Cup, World Baseball Classic, Olympics, and the Intercontinental Cup), Cuba had made it to the finals in 40 consecutive events.

Meanwhile, Japan goes on to face Korea once again, this time to determine seeding for the semifinals of the WBC. The winner of the game goes on to face Team USA, while the loser takes on Venezuela. All signs point to Daisuke Matsuzaka taking the mound for Japan tomorrow night against Korea.