Behind Munetaka Murakami’s third-inning home run, Japan defeated the United States in the final for baseball, fulfilling its national mission to win a first Olympic baseball gold medal.
Pitching proved to be the story of the game for Japan, as Masato Morishita and four relievers combined on a six-hitter. With the win, the Japanese men matched the nation’s women’s softball team, which also defeated the Americans to earn their second-straight gold medal.
At just 21 years old, Murakami was the youngest player in Japan’s starting lineup. But, with a gold medal hanging in the balance, he proved why he is a two-time All Star with the Central League’s Yakult Swallows, driving a pitch from Nick Martinez to the opposite field and over the 16-foot wall.
Japan went on to add an unearned run in the eighth inning after Masataka Yoshida singled off reliever Scott McGough and center fielder Jack Lopez heaved the ball past the plate for an error that allowed Tetsuto Yamada to score.
Japanese players streamed onto the mound, the relievers running in from the bullpen. Manager Atsunori Inaba was hoisted into the air by players and thrown up and down on the mound as if on a trampoline. Players lined up on the third base line and bowed to their supporters, then to the U.S. team. U.S. manager Mike Scioscia tipped his cap in reply.
The clinching game marked the second time Japan defeated the United States in six days, having also rallied in the ninth inning to win 7-6 in extras on Aug. 2.
— With files from the Associated Press.
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