Japan Blanks Philippines, 10-0

Japan opened the Asian Olympic Qualifier on Saturday with a lackluster 10-0 victory over a scrappy Philippines squad at Taichung International Continental Stadium in Taichung, Taiwan. The Japanese will meet South Korea (1-0) on Sunday in a crucial contest for both teams.

Seibu Lions right-hander Hideaki Wakui breezed through the Filipino lineup tossing six innings of one-hit baseball while fanning seven en route to the easy win. Hiroyuk Kobayashi recorded the final three outs to set the stage for Sunday’s showdown.

Japan touched Makati Mariners southpaw Jon-Jon Robles for five runs in the opening frame as Hanshin Tigers slugger Takahiro Arai stroked a triple to drive home one run while light-hitting Munenori Kawaski ripped a two-run single.

The Philippines threatened to get on the board in the top of the third when shortstop Chris Canlas singled with one out and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. But Wakui got Filipino leadoff hitter Andro Cayugan to hit a grounder to third base to end the inning.

The Japanese, who outhit their Asian counterparts 16 to 1, increased their lead to 6-0 when right fielder Atsunori Inaba led off the fifth with a solo home run off Philippines reliever Roy Baclay. However, two baserunning miscues nullified three singles and a walk in the inning as Japan managed only one run.

Skipper Senichi Hoshino’s squad finished off the resilient Philippines bunch in the sixth frame scoring four runs on five hits to make the final tally 10-0. Catcher Shinnosuke Abe collected four hits for Japan while left fielder Saburo Omura was 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Korea 5, Taiwan 2

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