Shugo Maki’s Grand Slam Lifts Japan to Crucial Premier12 Win Over Venezuela

TOKYO – With one swing of the bat, Shugo Maki sent the Tokyo Dome crowd into a frenzy as his sixth-inning grand slam broke a 5-5 deadlock with a formidable Venezuelan side to propel Samurai Japan to its 26th consecutive victory at major international competitions.

Japan’s 9-6 win all but ensured the No. 1-ranked team in the WBSC’s World Baseball Rankings would appear in the 2024 WBSC Premier12 championship game at the Tokyo Dome on Sunday night, barring an unprecedented blowout loss leading to a tiebreaker.

Hanshin Tigers righthander Hiroto Saiki took the mound for Japan, striking out the side on 13 pitches in the first inning. His fastball had a little extra life on it, sitting 93-94 mph with over 2,500 RPMs.

???? Hiroto Saiki stuff#Premier12 || @Premier12 pic.twitter.com/tOE0J3ttrP

— WBSC ⚾???? (@WBSC) November 22, 2024

In the bottom half, Japan put up three runs, forcing Venezuela to labor for 43 pitches. After two homers and a triple last night, Kaito Kozono got it started with a double on the first pitch he saw.

Ryosuke Tatsumi followed it up with an opposite-field double to get the Samurai on the board first. Shota Morishita then went up the middle for an RBI single to make it 2-0, and Japan loaded the bases on a pair of walks, forcing starter Ricardo Pinto out of the game after recording just one out.

“[Pinto] forced me to use the bullpen early in the game,” manager Omar Lopez said after the game. “He didn’t have a good feel for his secondaries tonight.”

Ryosuke Tatsumi with an RBI double and Japan strikes first! pic.twitter.com/SOATuYZA24

— Jeff Duda (@INTLBaseball24) November 22, 2024

Yomiuri Giants southpaw Yohander Mendez relieved him, allowing one more run to cross the plate on a Sosuke Genda RBI fielder’s choice before escaping the inning.

In the top of the second, with a runner on first, Jeremaine Palacios skied one way deep to left field but the ball died at the warning track. But the next batter Angel Reyes didn’t miss a fastball down the pipe, dispatching it to center field for a two-run no-doubter.

Japan loaded the bases in the third on base hits by Ryoya Kurihara and Keita Sano and a hit by pitch on Shogo Sakakura but couldn’t cash in as Masayuki Kuwahara flew out to right to end the inning.

Saiki only struck out two more batters after the first, but managed his pitch count well and completed five innings. Mendez pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief, understanding the atmosphere at Tokyo Dome well thanks to his experience with the Yomiuri Giants.

“[Mendez] knows the league, he knows the system, he knows everything,” Lopez noted. “He was a key component to building our roster.”

Mendez’s teammate Haruto Inoue entered the game in the sixth, but Venezuela got to him quickly as Carlos Perez launched a one-out, two-run shot to make it a 4-3 game. Francisco Arcia added an RBI single for Venezuela’s third run of the inning, but the inning ended when he got trapped in a rundown as he tried to reach second base.

???????????? Venezuela building an upset at Tokyo Dome! #Premier12 || @Premier12 pic.twitter.com/RCShusTbmC

— WBSC ⚾???? (@WBSC) November 22, 2024

In the bottom frame, Shogo Sakakura got one back for Japan with a solo shot off Liarvis Breto. The Hiroshima Carp hit just 52 home runs as a team in NPB this season, but Kozono and Sakakura, who combined to hit 14 of those Carp homers, have provided all the pop for Japan in the Super Round. 

Manager Omar Lopez brought in Ricardo Rodriguez for just one out before turning to Jose Alvarez. That’s when things unraveled for Venezuela. With two outs and nobody on base, Kozono walked and Tatsumi singled, leading to another pitching change.

Pedro Garcia walked Morishita to load the bases and forced in a run with another walk to Kurihara, tying the game. Then, superstar Shugo Maki provided the fans the climax they were waiting for with a grand slam to left field as the stadium erupted to cap off a six-run inning. The blast had an exit velocity of 106 mph.

“Sakakura’s home run earlier in the inning gave us momentum,” Maki said. “He can hit anywhere, he has a knack for the big moments,” manager Hirokazu Ibata added. “I told him he’s going to get chances with runners in scoring position so that’s why I’m batting him sixth.”

Shota Suzuki, Tatsuya Shimizu, and Shoma Fujihira combined for two scoreless frames. Japan had a potential tenth run thrown out at the plate in the bottom of the 8th.

Venezuela scored a run off Taisei in the 9th, but it was a mere consolation prize as Samurai Japan preserved its perfect tournament record with a 9-6 win. Japan can guarantee the top spot in the Super Round with a win against Chinese Taipei tomorrow, though even a loss will still almost certainly put them in the championship game on Sunday.

???????????? A comeback win for Samurai Japan! #Premier12 || @Premier12 pic.twitter.com/6wn33MHG5u

— WBSC ⚾???? (@WBSC) November 22, 2024

“Tomorrow is another day and we’re going to come back and give everything for our country,” Lopez said, speaking to the fight Venezuela has to get to the championship on Sunday for a potential rematch with the world’s No. 1-ranked side.

NOTEBOOK – The United States will play Venezuela on Saturday, November 23 at noon JST at the Tokyo Dome, which means that game begins at 10 p.m. EST on November 22. Japan will face Chinese Taipei at 7 p.m. JST, which is 5 a.m. EST. All of the remaining 2024 Premier12 tournament games are streamed on https://gametime.sport/ and DAZN with a paid subscription.

Photo: Samurai Japan’s Shugo Maki hits a grand slam that put his team up 9-5 in a 2024 WBSC Premier12 Super Round game at the Tokyo Dome. (Photo Courtesy WBSC)