Japan and Mexico face off in a few minutes in Anaheim. The game can be seen later on tape delay. Both teams are 0-1, so the winner gains the advantage in heading for the semis. From a US perspective, they’d rather see Mexico win. With the US playing Mexico Thursday, the Americans would control their own destiny with a Mexican win. A Japanese win, especially one in which they shut down the Mexican offense, would put the into a tough tie-break scenario.
Update: Japan gets a threat going in the second as the first two batters reach. But then Hitoshi Tamura bunts into a double play as Mexico takes out the lead runner and the batter.
Update: I believe South Korea is rooting for Mexico as well. If Mexico wins, then South Korea is in the semis, as only one other team could earn 2 wins in that situation.
Update: I have to disagree with the Japanese manager Oh. His team gets the first two runners on again, and Oh has Ichiro sacrifice. Ichiro is too good a hitter to be used moving runners over this early in the game.
Update: Japan plays for one and gets none in the third.
Update: They are through three in Anaheim. Japan has three hits, Mexico one, and both pitchers are around 50 pitches thrown.
Update: For the third inning in a row, Japan gets the leadoff man on base.
Update: For the third inning in a row, Japan gets the first two hitters on first and second.
Update: For the third inning in a row, Japan tries to sacrifice. They are successful for the second inning in a row. I guess it’s the Deja Vu inning.
Update: And now for something completely different. Michihiro Ogasawara singles in two. The sacrifice finally pays off and Japan leads 2-0 in the top of the fourth.
Update: Tomoya Satozaki follows with a two run homer to extend the Japanese lead to 4-0.
Update: Ichiro singles, but Japan does not score again in the fourth.
Update: At the end of six, Japan leads Mexico 5-0. A Japanese win makes the next two days much more interesting.
Update: The Mexicans go to the bottom of the ninth trailing 6-1.
Update: Mexico gets two on, but fails to score in the bottom of the ninth. The win by Japan leaves all four teams in the tournament. There are lots of possibilities, including a Japanese loss and a United States loss putting Mexico in the semis if the tie breaker falls right. Both the US and Mexico are rooting for a Japanese loss tomorrow. A low scoring Japanese win against Korea, however, puts both Asian teams in San Diego. The US allowed 10 runs to Japan and Korea. If the Japanese win and allow less than six runs to the Koreans, then the US can’t win the tie-breaker, I believe.
Update, Wednesday 7:10 AM EST: It’s pointed out in the comments that Mexican is out of the tournament to do allowing more runs than Japan in US-Mexico-Japan games.
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