Japan won the first Olympic baseball game in 13 years inside a rain-soaked Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium, rallying from a two-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth to walk off the Dominican Republic.
Shortstop Sakamoto Hayato produced the decisive moment in the final frame with a one-out line drive to deep center, bringing home Murakami Munetaka for the walk-off RBI.
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Both starting pitchers matched each other inning-for-inning going six scoreless frames. Cristopher Mercedes of the Dominican Republic struck out seven and allowed three hits, while Japan's Yamamoto Yoshinobu – getting the start over former MLB All-Star Masahiro Tanaka – struck out nine and allowed just two hits.
Once both teams went to their bullpens, the offense – and the torrential rain – came.
This story awaits further updates