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02/26/2006 Archived Entry: "Japan and the WBC"
Japan and the WBC by Glenn Davies, Tokyo,Japan
Japan continued its preparations for its games against China,Taiwan and South Korea with an exhibition game against reigning Japan league champions Chiba Lotte Marines on Sunday night.
Japan won the game 5-1 behind the crisp pitching of submariner (and Chiba Lotte Marines starter)
Shunsuke Watanabe (4IP 3H 3SO 0ER).
Japan players had failed to hit a home run in exhibition games until Michihiro Ogasawara (Nippon Ham Fighters)hit a fifth-inning home run. The lack of power and even production with 5 runs from 15 hits is sure to be on manager Sadaharu Oh's mind, Japan will need to be better at manufacturing runs to go as far as it hopes in the tournament.
Japan has one more exhibition game scheduled for March 1st at the Tokyo Dome against the Yomiuri Giants
