|
 |   |
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
US edges Japan in landmark marathon baseball drama
SYDNEY, Sept 17 (AFP) - Mike Neill ended the longest baseball game in Olympic history with a dramatic game-winning home run here Sunday, giving the United States a 4-2 triumph over Japan to open the pro era of Olympic baseball. The 30-year-old leftfielder slammed a fastball from Japanese relief pitcher Toshiya Sugiuchi over the rightfield fence, standing to watch as it ended a historic thriller between two gold medal contenders. "I got caught up in the moment," Neill said. "I try not to do that but it was an unbelievable moment. I knew it was going out of the park. It was an intense game. I was glad it was over. I was getting tired." Sugiuchi walked US centerfielder Brad Wilkerson to set up the final swing. Neill eventually began running the bases and by the time he reached home plate, all of teammates were leaping and yelling there waiting to greet him. "It feels awesome," Neill said. "I was lucky enough to look for a fastball and I got a fastball. It was neat, an awesome experience going around the bases and seeing the guys waiting for me at home." American minor-leaguers outduelled a team with eight Japanese pro stars before a crowd of 13,404 at Homebush Bay that viewed another Olympic first, the use of wooden bats in Olympic play rather than aluminium ones. "This is definitely a wakeup call for us," US catcher Marcus Jensen said. "This was a game of just grinding it out, trying to stay positive, keep working at it and making things happen. Someone had to step up into the spotlight. Mike was the man." The Americans had been one strike from victory in the regulation nine innings, but an error by US third baseman Mike Kinkade allowed Japan to push home the tying run. The Americans led 2-1 when third baseman Norihiro Nakamura of the Kintetsu Buffaloes singled off US relief pitcher Todd Williams to open the ninth inning. Pinch hitter Jun Hirose followed with an infield hit to advance Nakamura into scoring position. Then second baseman Jun Heima tapped a two-out, two-strike ground ball to Kinkade, who made a barehanded grab and an off-target throw to first base, allowing Nakamura to score the equalizer. Hirose was picked off at third base to end the Japanese threat but the damage was done. "We were upset," Neill said. "We thought we had the game done and over with and we didn't. Then we had to keep going. It was a great way to win it." The Americans got a runner to third base with two outs in the ninth but Japanese starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka of the Seibu Lions struck out shortstop Adam Everett to send the game into extra innings. "I complemented (Matsuzaka) after the game. He just had a great game," US manager Tommy Lasorda said. "It was just like the seventh game of the World Series. They played a tremendous ball game." Matsunaka, who turned 20 last Wednesday, scattered eight hits over 10 innings, striking out five while walking two in a marathon similar to one in 1998 where he hurled 28 innings in three days to help his team win the Koshien high school baseball tournament. "I was hitting my spots. I made all of my pitches well," Matsuzaka said. "I had hoped to stay in until the finish, but unfortunately I could not." US designated hitter John Cotton opened the bottom of the seventh inning with a triple off the centerfield wall and third baseman Kinkade followed with a single to left field to put the Americans ahead. Kinkade ran home on a fielder's choice later in the inning to give the US a 2-0 lead. "It was breathtaking. This was a great win for us," US designated hitter John Cotton said. "This was their ace starter and we beat him. It took a long time but it was worth it. I don't know what the World Series is like, but it compares to this." Japanese leftfielder So Taguchi of the Orix Blue Wave opened the eighth inning with a triple to centerfield and scored Japan's first run on a ground out by Tomohiro Iizuka off American southpaw relief pitcher Bobby Seay. In Sunday's other early game, two-time reigning Olympic champion Cuba routed South Africa 16-0. The Cubans pounded 18 hits while Norge Luis Vera and two relief pitchers combined for a no-hitter in a game halted after seven innings under the 10-run mercy rule.
|
