For the first time since 1990 the Nippon Professional Baseball All-Stars (Samurai Japan) defeated the MLB in the Japan All-Star Series. The annual event took place over the past week after an eight-year hiatus.
The two teams squared off for an official five-game series and two exhibition matchups. Samurai Japan defeated the MLB 3-2 in the five-game series and 4-3 in the overall series. The MLB had a chance on Thursday to go home with a winning record, but they lost 6-4 thanks to a three-run eighth inning by the Japanese.
Shota Takena took the hill for Samurai Japan and got the win after pitching just three innings. The 21-year-old right-hander surrendered four hits, four walks and one unearned run before he was relieved by Takahiro Matsuba. Hector Santiago of the Los Angeles Angels got the start for the MLB and was handed the loss after surrendering four hits, two walks and two runs (one earned) in four innings of work. Jose Veras and Randy Choate allowed three hits, a walk and three earned runs in the eighth inning, which put the MLB down 6-2 and led to their eventual loss.
The MLB looked like they would finish the series strong after victories on Sunday and Tuesday. Those two wins came after three straight losses in the official five-game series, which clinched Japan's victory. Colorado Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau continued his hot hitting on Thursday with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single and Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria smacked a home run in the fifth inning, which marked his third in seven games, but it wasn't enough as the MLB All-Stars left the bases loaded in the first, second and fifth innings and stranded a total of 34 runners.
Samurai Japan's leadoff hitter Yuki Yanagita extended the team's 3-2 lead with a two-run single in the eighth off Veras. He then scored when second baseman Ryosuke Kikuchi ripped a triple to center field off of Choate.
The good news for the MLB is that they had an opportunity to face a number of impressive Japanese pitchers, who could be targets in the international signing period if their teams decide to post them. The market for such players is growing and the league has already jumped on numerous opportunities (Yu Darvish, Masahiro Tanaka, etc.).
The MLB All-Stars will return to the U.S. and continue their offseason programs in preparation for 2015.
