OSAKA – The Kingdom Team suffered a 5-0 defeat against Samurai Japan, the reigning Olympic champion and world number one, in Osaka. Despite holding their ground for much of the game, Team Kingdom of the Netherlands struggled to break through Japan’s dominant pitching. 

In front of over 30,000 fans at the Kyocera Dome, the game started with a bang, reports Seb Visser of Honkbalsoftbal.nl. Japan’s lead-off hitter, Shun Mizutani, launched a home run to center field on just the second pitch of the game. Shortly after, pitcher Kevin Kelly was forced to leave the game with an elbow injury after being struck by a hard-hit ball. While initial reports were positive, the severity of the injury remains uncertain. 

Eric Mendez took over on the mound and kept Japan from scoring in the following innings, while Tom de Blok also pitched a strong inning. In the fifth inning, the Kingdom Team had its best scoring opportunity when Dwayne Kemp hit a hard double, but his teammates were unable to bring him home. 

Japan extended its lead in the sixth inning with a two-run single and added two more runs in the eighth. The Kingdom Team failed to get a single hit in the ninth inning, sealing the 5-0 loss. 

Head coach Evert-Jan ’t Hoen remained composed after the defeat: “We have to congratulate Japan. They deserved the win. For some of our players, this was their first time in such a big stadium. Tomorrow, we’ll have that experience under our belts and go for the win.” 

Dwayne Kemp recorded the only hit for the Kingdom Team. “Japanese pitchers throw differently than what we’re used to. They did a great job. We didn’t play to our full potential, but I believe in our team and I’m confident we’ll do better tomorrow.” 

The Kingdom Team will play its second and final game of the RAXUS Samurai Japan Series on Thursday, once again at the Kyocera Dome.