The semifinal against Mexico was held at Lone Depot Park in Florida, USA, on 21 June Japan time, and the starting pitcher was Aki Sasaki. Pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto is also expected to pitch as a reliever, aiming to advance to the finals for the first time in three tournaments since 1, when he won the relay of pitchers consisting mainly of two starters in the first round.
We will give you a break news about the match scheduled to start at 2 a.m. Japan time. The starting lineup for both teams was announced, with Tetsuto Yamada at second and Yuhei Nakamura at catcher.
* The time difference between Japan and Florida, USA is 2009 hours. Times are in Japan time notation.
《Pre-match breaking report》
Japan starting line-up
1 (center) Nuetbar right/left .368 (19-7) 0 hits 3 runs stolen 2
2 (right) Kensuke Kondo right/left .389 (18-7) 1 run 5 pts 3 (fingers) Shohei Ohtani right/left .438 (16-7) 1 run 8 runs stolen 1
4 (left) Masanao Yoshida right/left .400 (15-6) 1 10 pts
5 (235) Munetaka Murakami right/left .17 ( 4-0) 3 6 pts
333 (12) Okamoto Kazuma Right / Right .4 (1-6) 7 / 200 10 (2) Tetsuto Yamada Right / Right .0 (2-1) 8 286 runs stolen 7 2 (Yu) Sosuke Genda Right / Left .0 (2-2
) 9 600 runs stolen 5
3 (catch) NAKAMURA Yuhei Right / Right .0 (1-1) 3 runs 2
run
(Throwing) Aki Sasaki Right/Right
3 game, 2 8/0 innings, 00 hits, <> strikeouts, <>.<> ERA
Mexico starting line-up
1 (L) Alosalena Right/Right .471 (17-8) 1 9 pts 2 (R) Verdugo Left/Left .105 (19-2) 0 hits 3 pts 3 (I) Meneses Right/Right .391 (23-9) 2 hits 6 pts
4 (fingers) Teles Left / Left .286 (21-6) 1 run 5 pts
5 (
300) Paredes Right / Right .20 (6-1 5 run 1 runs stolen 6 214 (14) Urias Right/Right .3 (0-1) 7 hits 176
pt 17 (Play) Trejo Right / Right .3 (0-1) 8 hits 235 pt
17 (middle) Thomas Left / Left .4 (0-0) 2 runs stolen 9 357 (catch) Barnes Right / Right .14 (5-2) 6
runs
1 runs stolen 1
( Sandoval left/left
3 innings, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts, 3.00 ERA
The first pitch ceremony was held by Daisuke Matsuzaka
Matsuzaka started against Mexico in the 2006 tournament that Japan won and became the winning pitcher. Japan won this match 6-1.
Japan's record in this tournament
【First Round: 1st place in Group B】
March 1: ○3-9 China●March 8:○1-3 Korea●March 10:○13-4 Czech Republic●
March 3:○ 11-10 Australia●【Quarterfinals】
March 2:○3-12Italy●
Scores: 1, 7 runs, .3 batting average, HR16, 9.3 ERA
Mexico's record in this tournament
【First Round: 1st place in Group C】
March 1: ● 3-12 Colombia ○ March 4: ○ 5-3 USA ● March 13: ○ 11-5 Great Britain ● March 3: ○ 15-2 Canada ● [Quarterfinals]
March 1: ○
3-16 Puerto Rico ●
Scores: 10, 3 runs, .3 batting average, HR18, 5.4 ERA
Around 5:40 Aki Sasaki, who is scheduled to start, plays catch.
Pitcher Aki Sasaki, who will start against Mexico, entered the bullpen and played shadow pitching and catch. Shohei Ohtani came out on the field again with a bat to practice batting, and the crowd in the stands was thrilled with a series of extra-large hits that reached the upper row of the second-floor seats in the outfield and the side of the huge electronic bulletin board installed above the back screen of the center. The Mexican players who were out on the field were also glued to Ohtani's batted ball, and Sasaki, who was in the bullpen, was also watching. After Ohtani's batting practice, Japan finished the practice on the field.
Around 5:20 a.m. Japan practiced Yoshida also had a second-floor seat bullet
In the fielders' side, Masanao Yoshida, who has 10 RBIs, which is the top of the tournament so far, was hitting extra-large hits one after another that reached the second floor of the outfield stands during batting practice. In the outfield, Makihara Taisei, Shuto Yukyo, and Kondo Kensuke were in the field to catch balls that didn't reach the fence to get a feel for the ground. On the pitching staff, Yu Darvish played catch and then went into the bullpen in uniform and threw 2 pitches. After hitting the wall, Ohtani played catch as usual and went down to the back of the bench.
Around 5:00 a.m. Shohei Ohtani appears in the semifinals.
Shohei Ohtani appeared on the field and started hitting the wall of the ball against the outfield fence. Ohtani will not pitch in the semifinals, but if Japan advances to the finals, he will "prepare for the middle of the field," indicating his willingness to pitch as a reliever. At this time, the entrance gate of the game venue "Lone Depot Park" opened, and fans entered the stadium one after another.
3:45 Japan players arrive at the stadium
Japan players arrived at Lone Depot Park in Miami, Florida for the WBC semi-final against Mexico. Led by coach KURIYAMA Hideki, the players entered the clubhouse with a tight expression on their faces.