Japan defeats South Korea to launch new Premier12 global championship
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<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLmo0F-DcEM" target="_blank">Highlights</a></p>
<p>SAPPORO, Japan — World No. 1 Samurai Japan defeated rivals No. 8 South Korea 5-0 to launch the newest international baseball flagship tournament, WBSC Premier12, before more than 28,000 fans at the Sapporo Dome and global TV audience Sunday night.</p>
<p>After WBSC Premier12 Global Ambassador Chan-ho Park threw out the ceremonial first pitch, Samurai starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani limited South Korea’s offensive attack to just two hits in the first six innings.</p>
<p>Ohtani, 21, displayed an arsenal of pitches, including a fastball that was recorded as high as 161 km/h (100 mph) and devastating fork-ball that not only helped strike out 10 South Korea batters, but also created a buzz on Twitter, trending across Japan and South Korea.</p>
<p>Yomiuri Giants shortstop Hayato Sakamoto (2 for 3, 2 RBI, 2 R) helped deliver the firepower on offense for Samurai Japan, hitting the tournament’s first home run in the sixth inning.</p>
<p>Pitchers Takahiro Norimoto and Yuki Matsui preserved the final three innings and first victory for Japan and Ohtani.</p>
<p>South Korea’s Kim Kwang-hyun (2.2 innings, 5 H, 2 ER, 5 BB) was tagged with the loss.</p>
<p>Japan (1-0) moves to the top of the standings in Group B, while South Korea moves to the bottom (1-0).</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="und">ICYMI: Ohtani!! 161 KM/H 100 MPH!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Premier12?src=hash">#Premier12</a> <a href="https://t.co/khoHTNT5Me">pic.twitter.com/khoHTNT5Me</a></p>
<p>— WBSC (@WBSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/WBSC/status/663313594608562176">November 8, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Along with Japan and South Korea, No. 2 USA, No. 6 Dominican Republic, No. 10 Venezuela and No. 12 Mexico will be battling to be among the top four in the group.</p>
<p>Japan will next meet Mexico on Wednesday, while South Korea will tangle with the Dominican Republic.</p>
<p>After each nation plays each other once, the top four will advance to the quarterfinal-knockout stage, while the bottom two will be eliminated from the tournament.</p>
<p>World No. 4 Chinese Taipei and No. 5 Netherlands will open Group B Monday night at Taichung Intercontinental Stadium. No. 3 Cuba, No. 7 Canada, No. 9 Puerto Rico and No. 11 Italy are also competing in Group A.</p>
<p>The competing nations in the 2015 WBSC Premier12 have qualified based on their Top 12 finish in the 2014 WBSC Baseball World Rankings.</p>
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