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Japan Sweep Czech Republic in Exhibition Series

 Yuri Karasawa  |    Nov 10th, 2024 12:30pm EST

TOKYO, Japan — The Vantelin Nagoya Dome was the host site of the Japan-Czech Republic exhibition series over the weekend. The nations have grown especially close since their 2023 World Baseball Classic matchup, as that game served as a catalyst for great cultural exchange. Famously, Shohei Ohtani repped the Czech cap in Miami.

Japan practiced in Miyazaki last week and held a practice game against the Hiroshima Toyo Carp before traveling to Nagoya as they prepare for the Premier12. Meanwhile, the Czechs continued their Asian tour by playing two games against Chinese Taipei in Taiwan.

In Game One, catcher Martin Cervenka put the Czech Republic in front early with an RBI hit off Chunichi Dragons ace Hiroto Takahashi. The Czech Republic was also the first to strike against Japan when the sides met in the 2023 WBC.

The Samurai drew even in the third on a Kaito Kozono infield single and took the lead in the sixth on a Ryoya Kurihara sacrifice fly and Shota Morishita RBI knock. Takahashi pitched three innings before being relieved by Hanshin Tigers right-hander Hiroto Saiki, who then struck out seven of the nine batters he faced.

The Czech Republic kept the game competitive until the seventh when Japan finally blew the game open. Sosuke Genda tripled, Kotaro Kiyomiya doubled, Kozono singled, and Rakuten Eagles outfielder Ryosuke Tatsumi smashed a three-run bomb to make it 7-1. It was a team cycle for Japan in the seventh.

Koki Kitayama pitched the seventh and eighth innings while Taisei had a quick ninth, including a matchup against new Yomiuri Giants teammate Marek Chlup, to end it. Japan’s pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts and retired the last 21 hitters of the game to help their squad win Game One 7-1.

In Game Two, Hanshin Tigers outfielder Shota Morishita got Japan off on the right foot with a two-run homer against Czech soft-tosser Ondrej Satoria. Japanese starter Takahisa Hayakawa channeled that early momentum and struck out five batters across two scoreless innings.

The Czechs kept things close again until the late innings as 18-year-old University of South Florida commit Michael Senay held Japan scoreless in four innings of relief with three strikeouts. But Japan added a third run in the seventh inning on a Sosuke Genda RBI groundout that was made possible by pinch-runner Ryota Isobata stealing second and third base.

Japan broke it open once again late, this time with a six-run eighth inning that included five base hits, two errors by the Czech Republic, and a walk. A relay of Shosei Togo, Chihiro Sumida, Shota Suzuki, Shoma Fujihira, Sora Suzuki, and Tatsuya Shimizu secured the 9-0 shutout win for the Samurai.

Japan’s pitchers combined for 29 strikeouts in 18 innings over the two-game set. Time and time again, Japan proves its pitching is at the top of the international scene. If Japan are to defend their Premier12 championship, their deep staff will likely be the main driving force of their success.

Their next game will be the real thing: the Premier12 tournament opener in Nagoya against Team Australia. Yomiuri Giants southpaw Haruto Inoue will likely be the starter for team Japan. He finished the NPB season strong and threw three perfect innings with five strikeouts against Hiroshima last week.

WBN Japan: https://worldbaseball.com/league/japan/

Photo Credit: Pitcher Takahisa Hayakawa #15 of Japan throws in the 3rd inning during the Asia Professional Baseball Championship game between Australia and Japan at Tokyo Dome on November 18, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images)

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Yuri Karasawa
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