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TOKYO – Rich Hill will take the mound for Team USA as it begins Super Round play at the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 presented by RAXUS on Thursday, taking on Japan. First pitch from the Tokyo Dome is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. local/5:00 a.m. ET.
PITCHING MATCHUP
LHP Rich Hill (USA) vs. RHP Hiroto Takahaski (JPN)
U.S. starting pitcher Rich Hill
SUPER ROUND STANDINGS
Team USA (0-0)
Chinese Taipei (0-0)
Japan (0-0)
Venezuela (0-0)
HISTORY AGAINST MEXICO
Team USA and Japan have met on 18 different occasions, with Team USA owning a 10-8 all-time record in the series. The two sides first played one another at the 1999 Intercontinental Cup, a 4-0 win for the United States. The stars and stripes are 1-1 against Japan at the Premier12, dropping their first meeting in 2015 and winning the most recent matchup in 2019. Japan has emerged victorious in each of the last three meetings between the two nations, with the last two coming in gold medal games; Japan won gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games before winning the 2023 World Baseball Classic title.
LAST TIME OUT
The U.S. secured its spot in the Premier12 Super Round with a 12-2, run-rule victory over Mexico on Thursday night. After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, Team USA scored two runs over each of the next three innings before a five-run explosion put the game away. Termarr Johnson put Team USA in front with a…
