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It's Honkbal Heaven (for some)

Submitted by Rick Eyre on August 14, 2008 - 9:07pm

It's my favourite team sport at the Olympics and it's being tossed out for 2012. The baseball (or as they call it in the Netherlands, honkbal) competition began on Wednesday. Australia failed to qualify for the tournament, as therefore there is next to zero chance of any coverage on Channel Seven. Even SBS gives us some vague promises of no more than an hour's coverage on each of Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd, semis and finals days respectively.

Cuba are my pre-tournament pick for the gold, with Japan for silver and South Korea for bronze. Also appearing: China, Taiwan, Netherlands, Canada and that place just south of Canada.

Good to see Stubby Clapp back on deck for the Canadians. The legendary number 10 for the Memphis Redbirds (indeed they retired his number last year) came out of retirement for the Beijing Olympics.

The Richmond Braves' Scott Thorman hit the first home run of Beijing 2008 in Canada's mercy-shortened 10-0 drubbing on the home side. Taiwan beat the Netherlands 5-0 despite third baseman Chiang Tai-Shan being banned on the eve of the tournament for testing positive. South Korea tipped out the US 8-7, while Cuba beat Japan 4-2 in what could be a preview of the final.

Here's the Olympic News Service summary of Honkbal Day One:

(BEIJNG, August 13) -- An outstanding pitching performance from starter Chen Wei-Yin helped Chinese Taipei to a first-up 5-0 win over the Netherlands in front of some strong vocal support at Wukesong Baseball Field on Wednesday.

Chen pitched a stellar seven shut-out innings, striking out seven, giving up just three hits and no walks to totally dominate the Dutch hitting line-up, before being replaced by Cheng Kai-wen, who took care of the final two innings.

China's Olympic Baseball debut ended in an error-ridden defeat as Canada took a 10-0 win, called after eight innings by the mercy rule.

China's demise began with relief pitcher Liu Kai, who entered the game in the top of the fifth inning and walked four hitters. He hit Scott Thorman with a pitch and also walked a runner with the bases loaded.

Canada's first baseman Thorman opened the scoring with a three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning. He brought in Stubby Clapp and Michael Saunders who hit a single each.

Canada's starter Chris Begg pitched seven innings with nine strike-outs. Chen Wei-Yin took a tough loss with seven hits in seven innings and no walks.

"This was China's first real international game, and there have to be a lot of guys who were really antsy. We have a lot of experience in international baseball and we came here with one mission in mind - to expose any team we play," said Terry Puhl, Canada's manager, on China's performance.

Chinese team manager Jim Lefebvre addressed neophyte China's approach to the grand old game, "The beautiful thing about baseball is you get to play everyday."

The Republic of Korea beat the United States 8-7 in a nail-biter in the Baseball competition on Day One.

The Republic of Korea's return to Olympic Baseball after an eight-year hiatus was a thrilling one, as it pulled out all the stops, including using two pinch hitters in the bottom of the ninth. Pinch hitter Lee Taek-keun hit the game-tying RBI and scored the game-winning run.

Mike Hessman opened the US team's ninth inning rally with a home run over the leftfield fence before Taylor Teagarden and Brian Barden hit a single and a double. With the bases loaded and two outs, Matt Brown singled to center field, driving in two runs to give the States a 7-6 lead.

The final inning proved too much for relief pitcher Jeff Stevens, however, who threw wildly to first base in an attempted pick off, allowing Lee Taekkeun to advance to third. Stevens then gave up the single that won Korea the game.

The United States left seven runners on base, while the Republic of Korea managed to score 8 of 11 base runners.

Brandon Knight was the losing pitcher of record, working four and a third innings and allowing six earned runs on eight hits. Bong Jung-keun took the victory by tossing four and a third but only surrendering three runs on five hits.

Reigning Olympic champions Cuba shaped a 4-2 victory over medals rival Japan on the first day of action.

Veteran 37-year-old pitcher Norge Luis Vera picked up the win on the back of teammate Alfredo Despaigne's three RBIs and Alexei Bell's two extra base hits, while 35-year-old Pedro Luis Lazo, a four-time Olympian, entered the game in the seventh to pitch three innings of solid relief to secure the win for experienced Cuban combination.

Darvish took the loss after giving up seven hits and striking out six batters in four innings. Vera only struck out two, but scattered seven hits in six innings and twice forced Miyamoto Shinya to ground out into inning-ending double plays.

Both teams collected nine hits, with Cuba leaving 12 runners on base and Japan seven. Despaigne went three-for-four at the plate while Japan shortstop Kawasaki Munenori went three-for-three.

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Source http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/baseball/n214543447.shtml

(BEIJNG, August 14) -- The second day of Beijing 2008 Olympic Baseball competition was interrupted by a series of summer rain showers moving through the Chinese capital.

Stephen Strasburg threw seven scoreless innings and allowed one hit while recording ten strikeouts as the United States rebounded from Wednesday's loss and beat the Netherlands 7-0 Thursday at Wukesong Sport Center Baseball Field 2.

The US team blew the game open in the fourth when Matt LaPorta slammed a three-run homerun into the Wukesong practice field. Consecutive doubles by John Gall and Jason Donald capped the four run inning and the US team never looked back.

The Netherlands' starting pitcher Shairon Martis took the loss after four and two-thirds innings of work, allowing five runs with six strikeouts.

The game was delayed due to rain during the top of the eighth inning for an hour and thirty-five minutes. The Netherlands threatened to get on the board in the bottom of the ninth before another rain delay postponed the game.

After another 90 minutes of rain delay, the game was called and according to official game rules, the game reverts and ends at the finish of the most recent completed inning, Officially, the game finished in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Coming off a dramatic bottom of the ninth, walk-off win against the U.S. the night before, the Republic of Korea limped out of the gate against China on Thursday, and, after a combined two-and-a-half hour rain delay, now must wait until Aug. 17 to try to break a 0-0 deadlock. The game will be played on the Wukesong Baseball Main Field at 18:00 (UTC/GMT +8) on that date.

Through one out in the Republic of Korea's (bottom) half of the sixth inning, the game was a pitcher's duel. The Republic of Korea's Seungjun Song struck out nine China batters over his six frames, allowing only two hits, while Chenhao Li of China scattered three hits over five and a third.

After the storm abated, Cuba moved to 2-0 in round robin play as they defeated Canada 7-6.

After plating three runs on starting Canadian pitcher Brooks McNiven, Cuba gave up five unanswered runs as Canada looked poised to upend the ever-dominant Cuban club.

Canada was able to take advantage of Cuban fielding miscues with their hustle and obvious determination. Two homeruns by Nick Weglarz for a combined three RBIs in the fourth and sixth innings and a solo homerun by Michael Saunders in the third highlighted the scoring for Canada.

But Cuba blasted a homeruns off both Jonathan Lockwood and Chris Reitsma and reclaimed the lead by posting a four spot in the bottom of the sixth. Alexander Malleta and Alfredo Despaigne each had two-run homeruns to put Cuba ahead for good.

Vicyohandry Odelin picked up the win for Cuba while Jonathan Lockwood was stuck with the Canadian loss.

In the feature night cap on the Main field, Japan kept Chinese Taipei close until busting out with a big four-run ninth inning when their east Pacific rivals fell apart and bowed 6-1.

Chinese Taipei had gone up on by a single run in the fourth inning in a tightly played game typical of the technically skilled teams. But the well-experienced club from Japan logged a run of their own in the fifth and again in the sixth inning to make the difference.

Wakui Hideaki picked up the win for Japan, yielding one earned run over six sterling three-hit innings including six strikeouts. Chinese Taipei starter Hsu Wen-hsuing kept his club in it with five three-hit innings for one run and four strikeouts. Li Fu-te absorbed the loss when a base runner he allowed scored the winning run in the sixth.

Source http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/baseball/n214547978.shtml

(BEIJING, August 15) -- China's late rally in the eighth inning and a second-rate performance from Chinese Taipei's relief pitchers helped China to Olympic victory in extra innings as they defeated long-time rivals Chinese Taipei 8-7 at Wukesong Baseball Field here on Friday.

Chinese Taipei's starting pitcher Pan Wei-lun dominated, striking out seven batters in almost seven full innings and allowing no runs.

Chinese Taipei leveled the score and the teams remained tied 3-3 at the end of the 10th inning. The new extra innings rule was implemented as each team took to the plate with runners on first and second from the 11th inning. The score remained tied into the 12th, until Chinese Taipei scored four runs to take the lead 7-3.

China retaliated at the bottom of the 12th with five RBIs to take their first Olympic Baseball victory, finishing 8-7.

Chinese Taipei's Lo Kuo-hui opened the scoring with a high-flying homerun over the centerfield fence.

Relief pitcher Yang Chien-Fu, who took the loss for Chinese Taipei, loaded the bases in the 12th with a walk to set the table for China's first win.

China's game-winning run came as Sun Lingfeng charged home, capitalizing on an error by right fielder Chang Chien-ming to seal an 8-7 victory.

James Lefebvre, China's manager, spoke on the challenges he faces coaching in China, "After five years, I know it sounds corny, but there's a third language and it's baseball."

Cuba claimed a 5-4 victory over arch rivals the United States in a tension-packed game that also involved the new extra-innings rule.

Michel Enriquez's RBI single to score two runs in the 11th was the difference between two tightly-matched teams, while four-time Olympian Pedro Luis Lazo also played a starring role for Cuba, pitching six relief innings and claiming his fourth Olympic win.

Both teams blew chances to go ahead in the 10th inning, with the score remaining 3-3. The newly-introduced 'Extra Innings Rule' of international Baseball came into effect at the top of the 11th.

The victory leaves Cuba unbeaten and sees the United States with just one win from three games and little room for error for the remainder of the tournament.

A full game shut out by the Republic of Korea's star pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin and a lone homerun were enough to defeat Canada 1-0. Ryu allowed just five hits and struck out six batters.

Jeong Keun-woo opened the scoring with a homerun over the centerfield fence in the third inning to put the ROK ahead 1-0.

"Clearly now Canada has their backs against the wall. There is no more tomorrow for this ball club," warned Canadian manager Terry Puhl on being 1-2 after three games played.

Japan was nearly flawless on Friday night, as it blanked the hapless Netherlands team, 6-0.

Starter Sugiuchi Toshiya was nearly perfect, going seven innings, allowing only four hits, one walk and striking out six. Netherlands starting pitching Alexander Smit (0-1) surrendered four earned runs – all in the first – and six hits while striking out four and walking three in the loss.

The three-loss Netherlands side has yet to score a run in these Olympic Games.

Sato Takahiko hit a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth inning. Aoki, Morino and Arai all logged two hits for Japan, and Arai's two RBI led all batters. Four hitters each had one hit for the Dutch.

Source http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/baseball/n214552632.shtml

(BEIJING, August 16) -- United States' power hitters defeated Canada, Cuba's solo homerun took out Chinese Taipei, the Netherlands took their first win and the Republic of Korea held off Japan at Wukesong Baseball Field on Saturday.

US power hitters Terry Tiffee and Brian Barden led their team to a 5-4 victory in a tight battle against Canada. Although Canada took a 4-0 lead after four innings, the United States rallied with a solo Barden homerun to get back in the game before a series of solid hits, including two RBI doubles by Tifee, sealed the win.

In a tight pitcher's duel between starters Elier Sanchez of Cuba and Chinese Taipei's Lee Chen-chang, both just 21, Sanchez prevailed, giving up just three hits and two walks in seven shutout innings to take the win. A solo homerun from Frederich Cepeda in the bottom of the seventh was enough for Cuba to send off a determined Chinese Taipei quad, 1-0.

Batters from the Netherlands found their tournament form as relief pitcher David Bergman saved the game to lead his team to a 6-4 victory over China. The Netherlands scored their first run of the tournament with Sharnol Adriana's homerun in the fourth inning, lifting his team's spirits and spurring them to a win. The Netherlands' reliever Bergman, pitching on his birthday, shut down a bases loaded situation in the ninth inning.

The Republic of Korea defeated archrival Japan 5-3 in a tense game that had the capacity crowd in an uproar. With the score tied at 2-2, courtesy of two-run homeruns by Japan's Arai Takahiro and the Republic of Korea's Lee Dae-ho, the usually reliable Japanese defense crumbled as ROK manager Kim Kyung-moon won the battle of late game maneuvers with Japanese field boss Hoshino Senichi. After the Republic of Korea went up 5-3 in the top of the ninth following two RBIs and a costly error by Japan, the Japanese scored one final run before ending the game with two runners left on base, defeated by ROK's multiple pitching changes.

Source http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/baseball/n214561355.shtml

(BEIJING, August 18) -- Japan dashed Canada's medal hopes, Cuba thumped the Netherlands in eight innings via the mercy rule and the United States defeated China in a heated face-off as day five of the Baseball competition unfolded at Wukesong Baseball Field on Monday.

Japan slipped by Canada 1-0. A solo Japan homerun was enough to all but end Canada's medal hopes. A strong pitching display from Naruse Yoshihisa kept the Canadians scoreless. Facing just 23 batters in seven innings Naruse struck out 10 and allowed just two hits. Canadian starter Chris Begg was impressive, keeping the Japanese hitters off-balance, but one of the four hits he gave up in 5.1 innings was the solo homerun to Atsunori Inaba.

Republic of Korea and Chinese Taipei settled a slugfest 9-8. Republic of Korea forged an early lead capitalizing on two errors by Chinese Taipei, a walk, a flurry of singles and a three-run homerun by Ko Young-min to be 7-0 in the first inning. Lee Dae-ho's third RBI of the game took Republic of Korea to a 8-0 lead after two innings. Chinese Taipei fought back, taking advantage of a number of walks, solid RBI singles and excellent base running to eventually tie the game at 8-8 in the sixth. Republic of Korea reclaimed the lead 9-8 as Kang Min-ho RBI singled to centre field in the seventh inning. Republic of Korea managed to keep Chinese Taipei at bay as Yoon Suk-min entered in the eighth and took the save, greatly reducing Chinese Taipei's hopes for a medal.

Cuba's batters were unstoppable as they defeated Netherlands 14-3 in eight innings via the mercy rule to continue their winning streak. The Dutch pitchers never stood a chance as Juancarlos Sulbaran started off by walking three Cubans to load the bases then allowing Cuba to score their first run on a wild pitch. Cuba took a total 16 hits from four pitchers leaving nine players on base. Tournament RBI leader Alfredo Despaigne of Cuba led the slugging onslaught adding a further three RBIs to take his tournament total to nine. The Dutch batters had a total of 10 hits, two of which were homeruns.

Starter Jake Arrieta dominated China's hitters to guide Team USA to a 9-1 win. The game was marred by some spiteful incidents which led to China's manager James Lefebvre and pitcher Chen Kun being ejected. In the bottom of the sixth Nate Schierholtz took out replacement catcher Yang Yang to score. Lefebvre and the Chinese team left the dugout to contest the play and Lefebvre was thrown out of the game. Reliever Chen Kun then brought the United States manager Davey Johnson out of the dugout as he hit Matt Laporta in the back of the helmet with a fastball. Chen was also ejected. Yang hit a consolation solo homerun to score China's only run.

Source http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/baseball/n214565071.shtml

(BEIJING, August 19) -- Canada shut out the Netherlands, while the Republic of Korea, Cuba, Japan and the United States booked berths in the semifinals on Day 6 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Baseball tournament at Wukesong Baseball Field on Tuesday, August 19.

Canada handled the Netherlands 4-0. Canadian starting pitcher Brooks McNiven shut out the Netherlands (1-5) to lead Canada (2-4) to a 4-0 victory. McNiven allowed just one hit in six innings, taking two strikeouts before Canada's three relievers pitched an inning each to close the game. Canada went ahead 1-0 in the third as Matt Rogelstad's sacrifice ground-out scored Emmanuel Garcia. An RBI triple and a sacrifice fly took Canada's lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning, and they added a fourth and final run at the top of the eighth. Despite a strong performance by the Netherlands' pitcher Shairon Martis, the Netherlands failed to fire at the plate.

The Republic of Korea outworked Cuba 7-4. The Republic of Korea (6-0) continued its winning streak, defeating a lethargic Cuban team 7-4 to take top position in the overall standings. Cuba (5-1) went ahead 3-0 in the second but the Republic of Korea's hitters then scored five runs in the fourth and worked over a total of five Cuban pitchers. Cuba's two final relievers gave up RBI singles in the sixth and seventh innings to give the Republic of Korea a 7-3 lead. The Republic of Korea's three relievers continued to keep the Cuban bats quiet, conceding only an RBI single to Frederich Cepeda in the top of the eighth. The win was the Republic of Korea's first against Cuba in Olympic competition. Both teams are now guaranteed a place in the semifinals.

Japan short-circuited China 10-0. China (1-5) never stood a chance as Japan (4-2) ploughed through five pitchers while claiming a 10-0 victory in seven innings via the mercy rule. Japan dominated from the outset, capitalizing on five walks and stealing four bases. Their batters fired, hitting five doubles and one homerun as Japanese starting pitcher Wakui Hideaki claimed his second tournament win and secured Japan a berth in the semifinals. Wakui took six strikeouts, allowing just two hits in seven innings.

The United States defeated Chinese Taipei 4-2 in a must-win game to wrap up a semifinal spot, eliminating Chinese Taipei from contention. Chinese Taipei scored on an error by the USA to go 1-0 up in the fifth, but Dexter Fowler answered with a triple in the bottom of the inning. Brian Barden's (USA) double scored Fowler to make it 1-1. John Gall's solo homerun and a double RBI by Fowler gave USA a 3-1 lead in the sixth. Lin Chih-sheng hit back with a solo homer in the seventh before Jason Donald's RBI single in the bottom of the eighth added an insurance run to make it 4-2. Kevin Jepsen earned the save for the United States.

Source http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/baseball/n214568767.shtml

(BEIJING, August 20) -- The United States defeated Japan 4-2 at Wukesong Baseball Field on Wednesday, August 20 and will now meet arch rivals Cuba in the Olympic tournament semifinals. Japan will take on the Republic of Korea in the other semifinal.

With Japan and the US team guaranteed a top-four spot before the game, managers Hoshino Senichi and Davey Johnson opted to rotate their pitchers in preparation for Friday's semifinals.

The pitchers did their jobs well as the teams remained scoreless and managed only two hits each until the game was kick started by the extra-innings rule.

With runners placed on first and second base in the top of the 11th, the United States knocked in four runs on singles to Brian Barden, Nate Schierholtz and Matt Brown, and an RBI groundout from John Gall.

Japan responded gamely in the bottom of the 11th with singles from Inaba Atsunori and Nakajima Hiroyuki but Casey Weathers struck out pinch hitter Abe Shinnosuke with the bases loaded to leave the final score at 4-2.

Ten pitchers turned out in the fine-tuning exercise - Trevor Cahill, Jeremy Cummings, Brian Duensing, Blaine Neal, Jeff Stevens and Weathers for the United States, with Yu Darvish starting for Japan before giving way to Tanaka Masahiro, Kawakami Kenshin and Iwase Hitoke.

Center fielder Dexter Fowler continued his surge into hitting form by collecting both United States hits before the 11th-inning action.

In a possible first for Olympic baseball, shouts from the tribune and dugouts were needed to alert home-plate umpire Daniel Toledo Rodriguez (Mexico) there were already three out for the United States in the top of the sixth, with Brown in the batting box representing a possible fourth.

Team USA's game against Cuba will start at 6:00 p.m. while Japan will face the Republic of Korea at 10:30 a.m. (UTC/GMT +8), with the winners playing off for gold on August 23 as the losers fight over the bronze. Thursday is a rest day in the Baseball competition.

Source http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/baseball/n214574161.shtml

(BEIJING, August 22) -- The Republic of Korea booked a place in the gold medal game and maintained their unbeaten run with a 6-2 win against Japan at Wukesong Baseball Field on Friday.

The Republic of Korea recovered from a shaky start and in the bottom of the eighth they scored four runs with two RBI doubles and a two-run homer by Lee Seung-yuop against Japan's relief pitchers.

Two errors by Japan's Sato Takahiko cost his team while the Republic of Korea manager Kim Kyung-moon again proved his strategic capabilities late in the game.

Starting pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun made a nervous start but found his form to take five strikeouts.

Japan opened strongly as Nishioka Tsuyoshi singled and advanced to second on a fielder's interference. Nishioka eventually scored on a fielder's choice and RBI by Arai Takahiro as Japan took a 1-0 lead after one inning.

The game's second sacrifice bunt by Araki Masahiro advanced him to second before a wild pitch allowed him to take third base. Aoki Norichika then scored Nishioka with an RBI single to left field and Japan went ahead 2-0.

The Republic of Korea found their rhythm in the fourth as Lee Yong-kyu led off with a single into left field, advancing to second base on leftfielder Sato's first error. Lee Yong-kyu then scored on a fielder's choice as the Republic of Korea closed the gap 2-1.

The Republic of Korea's third hit of the third inning, a single by Kim Dong-joo, ended Sugiuchi Toshiya's pitching stint as the first of Japan's five relievers took to the mound.

Strategic moves by manager Kim Kyung-moon paid off in the seventh as pinch hitter Lee Jin-young scored pinch runner Jeong Keun-woo with a single to level the score at 2-2.

The Republic of Korea stormed into the lead in the eighth as latent star Lee Seung-yuop finally found his tournament form, belting a two-run homer over the right field fence to take the Republic of Korea ahead 4-2. Kim Dong-joo then singled before Ko Young-min doubled to centre field scoring Kim on a second error by Sato.

An RBI double by Kang Min-ho put the Republic of Koreans ahead 6-2 and reliever Yoon Suk-min claimed two fly outs and a strikeout to seal The Republic of Korea's victory.

The gold medal game at 6:00 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8) on Saturday, August 23 sees the Republic of Korea play the winner of the game between Cuba and the United States at 6:00 p.m. on August 22. Japan will play the loser of that game for the bronze medal at 10:30 a.m. also on August 22.

Source: http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/baseball/n214575890.shtml

(BEIJING, August 22) -- Cuba's sluggers overpowered the United States as they clobbered five pitchers with four homeruns to seize a berth in the gold medal game, defeating Team USA 10-2 at Wukesong Baseball Field on August 22.

US starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg's 152km/h fastballs and change-ups were not enough to stop the Cubans. But it was the relievers team who truly felt the brunt of the Cuban power, allowing three homeruns between them.

Cuba opened the scoring in the third as Hector Olivera tripled to score Giorbis Duvergel, who was on base with a single. Olivera then scored on an error by second baseman Brian Barden and Cuba went up 2-0.

Back-to-back singles in the fourth put the United States in scoring position. Terry Tifee then grounded-out to advance the runners to second and third before a sacrifice fly by Matt Brown scored Brian Barden and closed the gap to 2-1.

Strasburg chalked up two strikeouts in the bottom of the fourth before Alfredo Despaigne sent a solo homerun soaring over the center field fence to put Cuba ahead 3-1 and send Strasburg from the mound.

Team USA came back in the fifth as Lou Marson advanced to second base on an error by Alexei Bell. He scored on a Jason Donald's broken-bat single to put the US team behind 3-2.

But Cuba unleashed on the US relief pitchers as Frederich Cepeda gave Cuba a 4-2 lead in the sixth with a solo homer from a Brian Duensing pitch.

The United States third reliever, Jeff Stevens, then fell victim to Cuba's third homerun as Bell smashed a three-run homer over the center field fence in the bottom of the eighth.

Blaine Neal tried to stem the flow but suffered the inning's second three-run homerun as Ariel Pestano hit a beamer straight down the third base line and out, scoring Yuliesky Gourriel and Despaigne as Cuba shot ahead 10-2.

Appearing in his fourth game of his fourth Olympic Games, Cuban veteran Pedro Luis Lazo picked up his second save and sealed Cuba's appearance in the gold medal game.

Cuba faces Republic of Korea for the gold medal at 6:00 p.m. (UTC/GMT +8) on Saturday, August 23. The United States plays Japan for the bronze medal at 10:30 a.m. on the same day.

Source http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/baseball/n214577579.shtml

(BEIJING, August 23) -- The United States beat Japan 8-4 to claim the bronze medal at Wukesong Baseball Field on Saturday, August 23.

It is only the second time in Olympic Baseball that Japan finished outside the medals.

Pitchers Brett Anderson of the US team and Japan's Wada Tsuyoshi issued a number of costly walks that led to multiple RBI homeruns as Japan and the United States traded blows until the fifth inning, when the US club walked away 8-4.

Araki Masahiro, the second batter of the day, hit the first pitch he saw over the leftfield fence for a solo homerun and Japan jumped ahead 1-0 in the first.

In the bottom of the second inning, Matt Laporta returned from injury with a solo homerun to level the score.

Anderson walked two in the third inning before Aoki Norichika lit a three-run homer over the leftfield fence, moving Japan ahead 4-1.

The United States retaliated in the bottom of the third with their own three-run dinger. Brian Barden reached second on an error by leftfielder Sato Takahiko before Jayson Nix drew a walk. Matt Brown mashed a three-run homer to level the score.

Brown revealed manager Davey Johnson's advice, "He told us to play relaxed, to try to have some fun. We were trying to do too much and were a little too tense (in previous games), so we got out there and had some fun."

The US team pulled in front 6-4 in the bottom of the fifth as Taylor Teagarden doubled to right field to score Brown and Nate Schierholtz .

A two-run shot down the third base line by Jason Donald scored Teagarden.

A final rally by Japan's hitters in the top of the ninth came up short, the game, and Japan's medal hopes, closing with runners on second and third.

Source: http://en.beijing2008.cn/news/sports/headlines/baseball/n214579764.shtml

(BEIJING, August 23) -- In what may be the last Olympic appearance for Baseball, the Republic of Korea and Cuba put on a show for the ages as the Republic of Korea defeated multi-gold winner Cuba Saturday night under the lights of Wukesong Baseball Field, turning the final game into a classic pitchers duel on August 23 at Beijing 2008.

The Olympic Softball tournament was decided in a similar fashion, as Japan knocked off the perennial champions from the United States 3-1. With the Republic of Korea's undefeated run through Beijing, the epicenter of international baseball has clearly shifted across the Pacific.

The Republic of Korea sent Ryu Hyun-jin to the hill Saturday night, and Cuba countered with Norberto Gonzalez. The start was Ryu's second of the tournament; his first was a gem against Canada on August 15. The Republic of Korea lefty went nine shutout innings in that first outing, allowing only five hits and striking out six.

Tonight, the Republic of Korea wasted no time getting on the board, quickly jumping ahead 2-0 courtesy of Lee Seung-yuop's two-run blast to left, driving in Lee Yong-kyu. The homerun was Lee Seung-yuop's second of the tournament.

Cuba came right back in the bottom of the first inning, scoring one run on a Michel Enriquez solo shot.

The 2-1 score stood for the next five innings, with the only significant threat coming from the Republic of Korea in the top of the sixth. With two men on and two away, Lee Dae-ho lined a ball to center that was snared by a diving Giorbis Duvergel.

The Republic of Korea followed through on its threats in the seventh inning when, with two men on, Lee Yong-kyu lined a ball to right that landed just fair and in front of the wall. The hit scored Park Jin-man and put Lee Yong-kyu on second as Lee Jong-wook moved to third. The hit chased Cuban pitcher Pedro Lazo, who never found his stride in relief of Gonzalez. Luis Rodriguez came on for Lazo and retired Kim Hyun-soo on a shallow fly to center.

Alexei Bell challenged the Republic of Korea in the bottom of the inning, blasting a solo shot to left center. The homerun was Bell's second as he added to his torrid tournament-leading .500 average.

Neither team scored in the eighth but Cuba threatened in the ninth inning as the Republic of Korea was unable to manufacture an insurance run in the top of the inning. Hector Olivera led off with a single to left field and Frederich Cepeda was put on base via the walk with one out and the ever dangerous Alexei Bell at the plate. Bell also took a walk that loaded the bases and forced the Republic of Korea to finally go to their bullpen, calling in Chong Taeh-won to relieve Ryu.

Chong forced Yuliesky Gourriel into a 6-4-3 double play as the Republic of Korea won their first gold medal in Olympic Baseball.

This is the Republic of Korea's second Olympic Baseball medal, having taken home a bronze from Sydney 2000. The silver medal was Cuba's second, also from Sydney, to go along with its three gold medals from Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004.

Ryu (2-0) got the win as he went eighth and one-third innings, allowing two runs on five hits and seven strikeouts. Norberto Gonzalez (0-1) suffered the loss for Cuba as he allowed two runs on two hits in five and two-thirds innings of work. Chong was credited with his second save of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Baseball tournament.

Neither Baseball nor its sister sport of Softball will be contested at the London 2012 Olympics. After this sterling display of competition, their reinstatement may well be considered.

Box score: http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/INF/BB/C73/BBM400101.shtml
Play by play: http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/INF/BB/C69/BBM400101.shtml