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LEAD: Olympics: Naruse mows down Canada, Inaba homers in Japan's baseball win
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BEIJING, Aug. 18 (15:55) Kyodo
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(EDS: ADDING QUOTES)
Yoshihisa Naruse pitched seven sharp innings striking out 10
batters and Atsunori Inaba broke a scoreless tie with a homer in the
fifth inning as Japan edged Canada 1-0 in preliminary action at the
Beijing Olympic Games on Monday.
Senichi Hoshino's team improved to 3-2 in the round-robin stage
to move a step closer to a spot in the semifinals, while Canada
suffered its fourth defeat of the tournament.
''I never really expected winning to be this difficult even
after so many years in baseball, but international baseball is like
this,'' Hoshino said. ''But the players really did a good job today.''
Lotte Marines left-hander Naruse diced up Canada's lefty lineup
allowing just two hits with no walks, mixing in his fastball and
slider on the outside corner at Wukesong Baseball Field.
''I tried to remain composed. (Lotte catcher Tomoya) Satozaki
told me that my pitches were better than during the regular season.
It's not over yet, so I just want to be ready to pitch like I did
today in my next game,'' Naruse said.
Hanshin Tigers closer Kyuji Fujikawa pitched the eighth and
Yomiuri Giants pitcher Koji Uehara closed out the ninth. Chris Begg
allowed one run and four hits in 5-1/3 innings for Canada.
Canada threatened in the fourth when Emmanuel Garcia got a
one-out single followed by a double down the right-field line by
Michael Saunders, putting runners at second and third. But Naruse
struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
Inaba homered over the right-center wall to lead off the next
frame to give Japan the lead.
''That was really the only pitch that was kind of easy to hit.
The other ones were on the corner and very difficult,'' Inaba said.
''I felt really comfortable with my batting for the first time
in a while,'' added Inaba, who is 4-for-19 thus far in Beijing.
Canadian manager Terry Puhl, said, ''Another well-played
ballgame. We've thrown the same type of game out again with little
offense but great pitching. We just couldn't generate offense when it
was needed.''
Japan almost added another run in the ninth when Masahiko Araki
led off with a single and reached third with no outs on a botched
pick-off attempt, but reliever Steve Green got out of the jam.
Japan will face host China in its next game on Tuesday. |
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