Europe beats Samurai Japan 6-2

Relief pitching played a major role on both sides. The relief pitchers of Europe gave up some runs after Europe hit themselves into an unexpected 5-0 lead, but the Japanese relievers hardly gave up more hits and runs.

In game two of this All-Star party, Diegomar Markwell started the game vs Samurai Japan. He allowed the very first hitter to reach first base but picked him off and got out of the inning.
In the bottom of the first Michael Duursma drew a lead off walk but Vaglio hit into a double play before Curt Smith grounded out.

Kalian Sams drew a walk in the second inning and scored on Mario Chiarini’s double to left field. Blake Ochoa followed with another double but this time to right field and thus gave the Europeans a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the third, Markwell got into a jam with runners on the corners but got out of it when Michael Duursma caughtapop up at third base after having some trouble with detecting the ball against the background of the ceiling of the Tokyo Dome.
Alessandro Vaglio drew a lead off walk followed by a single through the left side of the infield by Curt Smith in the bottom of the third. Then De Caster hit a bomb to left center field and took Vaglio and Smith with him for the 5-0 lead for Europe.

But when Japanese manager Kokubo brought in Shouichi Inoh and later Shota Takeda, the Europeans collected only one hit until the bottom of the eighth when Alessandro Vaglio doubled to left field.

Leslie Nacar cruised through the fifth inning by retiring the side. But was replaced after Yamato hit a solo shot in the sixth and a walk given up to Sakamoto. Lefty Luke Sommer of the Heidenheim Heideköpfe got into the game in relief. With Ginji at third, Maru grounded out 6-3 to drive in the second run for Samurai Japan.

In the top of the seventh, Ryosuke Kikuchi hit a lead off double down the third base line. Then Tsubasa Aizawa laid down a bunt but Luke Sommer made a brilliant move by catching Kikuchi in a rundown. Aizawa advanced to second on the play before Ryosuke Kikuchi was even tagged out. Sommer eventually got out of the inning with the help of Michael Duursma who fielded the ball hit by Tetsudo Yamada and threw it to first.

Sho Nakata led off in the eighth with a single to left field and advanced on a sac bunt by Yoshitomo Tsutsugoh.
Despite the pressure that Japan put on, Luke Sommer retired the remaining batters; striking out Matsuda and a ground out by Yoshihiro Maru.

As said before, Alessandro Vaglio doubled to lead off the eighth inning and he advanced to third on a wild pitch by Yuki Matsui. After Curt Smith struck out swinging, Kalian Sams was in a familiar situation as he was in 2013 in the Tokyo Dome. He drove the ball to center field for a sac fly that allowed Vaglio to score the sixth run for Europe.

Tom Stuifbergen came into the game in a save situation and gave up a lucky hit to Ryosuke Kikuchi that dribbled through the center of the infield and allowed him to take second. He advanced to third on a sac fly of Yamada. But Stuifbergen retired the remaining batters for the save.

Once again Europe took an unexpected early lead, but this time the team of manager Steve Janssen was able to keep Samurai Japan at bay. I must tip my cap to Luke Sommer. It looked to me as he struggled a bit but nevertheless he fought his way through three innings and kept the Japanese from scoring.

Blake Ochoa from Spain was the best hitter for Europe, going 2 for 3 with an RBI. Yurendell de Caster drove in three runs.
Diegomar Markwell earned the win. He pitched three innings in which he only gave up three hits.

Takahiro Matsuba got the loss. He allowed team Europe to score two runs before he was pulled.