Japan knocks Team USA out of World Baseball Classic, 9-4
News Tribune news services
For the second time in three years, the United States was beaten at its own game on its own turf.
Maybe baseball just ain’t America’s sport anymore.
Daisuke Matsuzaka remained undefeated in the World Baseball Classic and defending champion Japan topped Team USA, 9-4, in the semifinals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
“Can you believe this? Look at the score. I feel so bad about this,” Tom Lasorda, Hall of Fame manager and WBC global ambassador, said from his seat behind home plate.
“I’m very, very disappointed. We had high hopes. This is the second time we were supposed to win. We taught these people the game.”
Instead, Japan gave the lessons on American soil.
Matsuzaka sent his country into tonight’s title game against South Korea, a 10-2 winner over Venezuela in Saturday’s semifinal. Japan won the inaugural tournament in 2006, defeating Cuba in the final.
Akinori Iwamura’s RBI triple was the key hit in a five-run fourth inning against starter Roy Oswalt, and the U.S. absorbed its first loss to Japan in major international play since soccer’s 2005 World Cup.
The Americans had won four in a row, including an 8-4 victory in the bronze medal game at the Beijing Olympics.
The WBC has hardly been a showcase for the United States.
Three years ago, the Americans were eliminated 2-1 by Mexico in the second round after beating Japan in pool play in Anaheim.
“I have no thoughts whatsoever that I have surpassed them,” Japan manager Tatsunori Hara said through a translator.
Matsuzaka allowed two runs and five hits in 42/3 innings. The Boston Red Sox right-hander struck out four and walked three before being pulled when he reached 98 pitches, two shy of the 100-pitch limit for the tournament’s final two rounds.
Matsuzaka, who pitched six shutout innings against Cuba last Sunday, is 3-0. He went 3-0 and was tournament MVP three years ago.
“Compared to the Cuba game, I believe that the control of the slider was not as good,” said catcher Kenji Johjima of the Seattle Mariners.
Oswalt got tagged, giving up six runs and six hits in 32/3 innings.
Short hops
Right-hander
Gavin Floyd and the Chicago White Sox agreed to a $15.5 million, four-year contract. Floyd, 26, was 17-8 with a 3.84 ERA for the White Sox last year. … The Milwaukee Brewers expect to start the season without new closer
Trevor Hoffman, who strained his right oblique muscle on March 13 and hasn’t thrown since.
WBC GLANCE
At Dodger Stadium
Semifinal
Sunday
Japan 9, United States 4
Championship
Today
South Korea vs. Japan, 6:30 p.m., ESPN
