In a tightly contested bronze medal game at the 4 Nations Cup in Saskatoon, Canada, the U.S. Men’s National Team edged out Japan 2-1. The game showcased strong pitching, defensive plays, and clutch hitting, with the U.S. capitalizing on key opportunities to secure the win.
The U.S. struck first in the bottom of the 1st inning. J Lewis drew a walk and advanced to third on a single by Blake Milheim. Tyler Johnson’s fielder’s choice allowed Lewis to score, giving the U.S. a 1-0 lead. Japan’s defense held firm, preventing further damage with a fielder’s choice to end the inning.Japan struggled offensively early, with U.S. pitcher Cody Gibbons dominating.
Gibbons struck out three batters in the 2nd inning and kept Japan scoreless through the first four frames, allowing only two singles and a stolen base. The U.S. added to their lead in the 6th when Yusef Davis singled, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by J Lewis, and scored on a line drive single by Zac Shaw, making it 2-0.Japan mounted a comeback in the 7th inning. Y Inoue blasted a solo home run to cut the deficit to 2-1. F Ueda followed with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, but U.S. pitcher Brad Kilpatrick, who relieved Gibbons in the 5th, sealed the victory with a strikeout of T Hamamoto, stranding the tying run.
The U.S. pitching duo of Gibbons and Kilpatrick was stellar, combining for eight strikeouts while allowing just one run. Japan’s pitchers—S Onodera, F Nagai, and H Ikeda—kept the game close, but the U.S. capitalized on timely hitting and solid defense to secure the bronze medal. Yusef Davis was named player of the game for the USA.
This victory highlights the U.S. team’s resilience and sets a strong tone for their next big event – the WBSC World Cup, which starts next week in Prince Albert Canada.