Japan's Kaito Kozono Drives in 7 Runs in Rout of the US in the Premier12 Super Round

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Kaito Kozono drove in seven runs on Thursday, November 21 to lead Japan to a 9-1 demolition of the United States in their first game of the Super Round of the Premier12 baseball tournament.

"It was a great start for us," Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata said. "Our pitchers did a very good job and Kozono had a huge night at the plate."

The Americans took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning at Tokyo Dome on a solo homer to left by Colby Thomas off Chihiro Sumida, Samurai Japan's second pitcher

Boston Red Sox pitcher Rich Hill, one of the few major leaguers on the team, started for the United States and did a good job of keeping Japan's batters off balance.

The 44-year-old lefty held Japan to one hit while striking out five over four scoreless innings.

Former Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who is managing the US team in this tournament, brought in pitcher Darrell Thompson in the fifth and he promptly gave up the tying run.

Sosuke Genda and Keita Sano both singled off Thompson and Shogo Sakakura doubled down the right-field line to score Genda and make it 1-1.

Scioscia then brought in Austin Vernon, who gave up a triple to Kozono that scored runners from first and third to make it 3-1 for Japan.

Premier12 — *Japan's Kaito Kozono slides into third base with a two-run triple in the fifth inning. (©SANKEI)*

"I was looking to change the flow of the game in that at-bat," Kozono said.

He added, "I was able to get a clutch hit and was glad to give us a lead."

Kozono Blast Gives Japan a 6-1 Lead

Kozono put the game out of reach with a three-run homer to right in the seventh inning that made it 6-1 for Japan.

In the eighth, Masayuki Kuwahara drove in another run with a single to center and Kozono hit a two-run shot off Cam Vieaux, the seventh pitcher used by Scioscia, to complete the scoring.

"I'm not known for hitting home runs," Kozono said. "I only hit two during the regular season so I wasn't thinking I would hit two tonight but was happy I did."

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Author: Jim Armstrong

The author is a longtime journalist who has covered sports in Japan for over 25 years. You can find his articles on SportsLook.