So much for small ball.
Takashi Toritani led off the game with a home run, Hayato Sakamoto had a grand slam, and Samurai Japan broke out its power bats to advance to the semifinals of the 2013 World Baseball Classic with a dominating 16-4 rout over the Netherlands in the second round on Sunday night at Tokyo Dome. The game was called after the bottom of the seventh due to the mercy rule.
"Everyone thinks the Japanese team plays small baseball," Japan manager Koji Yamamoto said. "I didn't expect that we'd hit six home runs."
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