Behind Munetaka Murakami's third inning home run, Japan defeated the United States in the final for baseball, fulfilling their national mission of winning the first Olympic baseball gold medal.
The pitching proved to be the story of the game for Japan, as Masato Morishita and four relievers combined on a six-hitter. With the win, the Japanese men matched the country's women's softball team, which beat the Americans to earn their second-straight gold medal.
At just 21 years old, Murakami was the youngest player in Japan's starting lineup. But, with a gold medal hanging in the balance, he proved why he's a two-time All-Star with the Central League's Yakult Swallows, running a pitch in opposite field from Nick Martinez and over a 16-foot wall. .
Japan added an unearned run in the eighth inning when Masataka Yoshida singled out reliever Scott McGoff and center fielder Jack Lopez threw the ball over the plate for an error that allowed Tetsuto Yamada to score.
Japanese players flowed over the mound, relievers running from the bullpen. Manager Atsunori Inaba was hoisted into the air by the players and thrown up and down the mound as if on a trampoline. Players line up at the third baseline and watch their supporters, then the U.S. Salute to the team. American manager Mike Scioccia took off his hat in response.
Japan marked the clinching game for the second time in six days by beating the United States, winning 7–6 in the ninth inning on 2 August in extras.
--With files from The Associated Press.
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