YOKOHAMA, Japan -- Team USA (2-0) will face off against host-country Japan (2-0) on Monday, August 2, in the quarterfinals of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games baseball tournament. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. JST/6 a.m. EDT/3 a.m. PDT at Yokohama Baseball Stadium and fans in the U.S. can watch it live on the NBC Sports Network (NBCSN), NBCOlympics.com, or the NBC Sports App.
Shane Baz (0-0) will get the start on the mound for the U.S. Japan will turn to Masahiro Tanaka (0-0).
Monday’s game will be the 10th all-time meeting against Japan in an Olympic Games. Team USA holds a 5-4 record over Japan in the previous contests and has won the last three meetings, including their last matchup in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games bronze medal game.
Trailing 4-1 in the bronze medal game, Matthew Brown three-run home run to tie the game in the bottom half of the third inning. Brown doubled and Nate Schierholtz walked to put runners on with one out in the bottom of the fifth, Taylor Teagarden followed with a double off the right-field wall, and Jason Donald hit a two-run bomb to double-up Japan, 8-4. Kevin Jepsen came on in relief in the eighth and shut the door on Japan, securing Team USA’s second bronze medal in its Olympic history.
The winner of tonight’s game will advance to play the winner of Israel and Korea on Wednesday, August 4, at 7 p.m./6 a.m. EDT/3 a.m. PDT in the first of two semifinals. The loser will advance into the elimination bracket and play on Wednesday, August 4, at 12 p.m./Tuesday, August 3, at 11 p.m. EDT/8 p.m. PDT.
Through two games, Tyler Austin leads the team in batting average (.444), RBIs (4), and total bases (9) and is tied for the team lead in doubles (2) with Eddy Alvarez. The pitching staff has been stout on the mound, holding a collective 1.50 ERA, a .185 batting average against, striking out 23 hitters, and surrendering just two walks. The previous two starting pitchers for the red, white, and blue have struck out 14 batters and surrendered no walks in 11.0 innings of work.
Three-time World Series champion Scioscia leads a roster laden with major league and international baseball experience. Of the 24 players on the roster, 19 have previously suited up for the red, white, and blue, and seven have won a gold medal. Additionally, 13 athletes have played in Major League Baseball (MLB), four have been named an MLB All-Star, two have won a World Series, and one was a member of Team USA when it won its first World Baseball Classic title in 2017.
Fans and media are encouraged to visit USABaseball.com and follow @USABaseball on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for the most up-to-date information for the team, including daily game notes, recaps, live scoring, and behind-the-scenes content.
