Korea 6, Japan 2
No gold medal for Japan in baseball — the Olympic team took a 2-1 lead into the 7th, but the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. Kyuji Fujikawa took the mound in the 7th and gave up a run on a walk and two hits to allow Korea to tie the game. Then Hitoki Iwase got the call to start the 8th and promptly gave up a single. Manager Hoshino visited Iwase after the hit, but left him in the game only to watch him give up a 2-run homer to Yomiuri Giants slugger Seung-Yeop Lee. Iwase had to give up another hit before finally being replaced with Hideaki Wakui, who gave up a couple of run-scoring doubles to make the score 6-2.
Japan went down quietly in the 9th, ending their shot at the gold. I didn’t get to watch the game, I just followed in on Yahoo Live, so I could only read what was going on. I found it strange that Hoshino used five pitchers in an 8 inning game, pulling starter Toshiya Sugiuchi for Kenshin Kawakami after Sugiuchi give up a run in the 4th inning. And I don’t understand why he went to Iwase again despite his recent struggles.
Congratulations to the Korean team – they beat every team in the tournament and deserve their chance at the gold medal.
22/08/2008 at 10:42 am Permalink
After this game,there only thing would be clear :
Japan Manager Hoshino is a total jerk.Sorry for the dirty world.
Well, We shouldn’t blame the weak offense of Team Japan for Hoshino, but he obviously abused Hitoki Iwase.Iwase pitched 2 innings in USA Game,just rested one day,he had to pick his glove again.
Do Hishno know that Iwase barely pitchs over one inning in NPB? lol