TAOYUAN, Taiwan -- Pinch-hitter Tetsuto Yamada drew a bases-loaded walk to spark a six-run eighth inning as Japan rallied to an 8-4 victory over Venezuela in its opening game of the Premier 12 tournament, which is serving as a qualifier for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Ryosuke Kikuchi followed Yamada with a run-scoring single and Seiya Suzuki had a sacrifice fly in the rally as the team, nicknamed Samurai Japan, opened its Group B campaign with a victory.
Hiroshi Kaino, the fifth of six Japanese pitchers, picked up the win after tossing a perfect eighth inning.
Both Kikuchi and Suzuki, teammates on the Hiroshima Carp, drove in runs in the fifth inning to give Japan a 2-1 lead that it lost when Venezuela struck back with three runs in the sixth inning.
In the other Group B game, host Taiwan defeated Puerto Rico 6-1.
The United States, playing in Group A in Mexico, edged the Dominican Republic 10-8 to finish 2-1 and clinch in the place in the second round, which will be held in Japan.
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