FUKUOKA -- Japan lost Hiroshima Carp ace Hiroki Kuroda for the World Baseball Classic after a finger injury sustained in Friday's 7-0 win over the NBP All-Stars.
Kuroda faced just two batters, and he bruised the index finger on his throwing hand while fielding a line drive from SoftBank outfielder Naoyuki Omura. Kuroda went for X-rays after the game, and tests were negative.
He is expected to rejoin the Carp in a week's time. Replacing Kuroda was Hanshin Tigers closer Tomoyuki Kubota, one-third of Hanshin's "JFK" relief tandem.
Kubota was 5-4 with 27 saves and a 2.12 ERA in 68 appearances for the Central League champions. A starter for Hiroshima, Kuroda had been working in a setup role for the WBC.