Ronald Acuna Jr: “It’s history for us”
The game got off to a flying start as Acuna Jr homered the second pitch off World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Ohtani promptly returned the favour in the bottom half, taking Ranger Suarez deep to restore parity.
Shortly after Ohtani’s home run, Japan were dealt an unexpected blow as Seiya Suzuki, who had been hitting well at the tournament with an OPS of 1.600, had to be replaced after injuring his right knee while unsuccessfully stealing second. In what could become a headache for the Chicago Cubs, Suzuki will continue to be evaluated.
Suzuki’s replacement, Shota Morishita, stepped up, hitting a three-run shot in the fourth to hand Japan a 5-2 lead after Teruaki Sato tied the game with an RBI double.
Yamamoto would settle, exiting after 69 pitches and allowing two runs on four hits and a walk. But that’s when Venezuela got to Japan.
In the fifth, Mikael Garcia made it a 5-4 game with a two-run homer off Chihiro Sumida. The following inning with runners on the corners, Abreu teed off Ito to put Venezuela up 7-5.
Japan shot themselves in the foot in the eighth, when Atsuki Taneichi allowed a lead-off double to Ezequiel Tovar, who came home on a throwing error by Taneichi in a pick-off attempt.
And by then, with a three-run advantage proved to be challenging for Japan to overcome on this night, the momentum had shifted to Venezuela and the party was beginning.
“It means a lot for the country, for the people,” Abreu said. “The crowd was very loud. I was excited. When I was running the bases, I can’t describe the feeling. That’s unforgettable.
This group is amazing. The vibes in the clubhouse are crazy.”
Added former National League MVP Acuna Jr, “Our plan was to attack the pitching and we had good execution.
“It’s history for us and for our country. We have been working on a daily basis to give joy to our country. But the job is not completed.
“We have two games to win.”