Fujita homers as Japan blanks Chinese Taipei, moves to Gold Medal Game

Japan defeated Chinese Taipei, 7-0, in six innings in the first semifinal of The World Games, and will play tomorrow for the gold medal and the title of world champion. Yamato Fujita hit a monster home run to left field in the four-run fourth inning, while Miu Goto and Sakura Miwa blanked Chinese Taipei from the circle.

A bases-loaded, two-run single off the bat of Kanna Kudo put Japan in front in the bottom of the first inning. 

Fujita’s two-run home run and a two-run double by Ayane Nakagawa added four more runs in the fourth inning, while an infield hit in the sixth allowed Kyoko Ishikawa to shut down the game early.

Nodoka Harada went 3-for-4, while Fujita, Nakagawa and Kudo collected a pair of RBIs each. Goto earned the win in 4 innings of work, allowing 3 hits and 1 walk, with 3 strikeouts.

Japan will play the Gold Medal Game tomorrow at 8 p.m. local time, while Chinese Taipei will play for the bronze at 4 p.m.