The World Baseball Classic, which ended Monday with Japan's 10-6 victory over Cuba, should forever erase any idea that the United States has a monopoly on its national pastime, the New York Times commented Wednesday.
Team Japan celebrates after beating Cuba on Monday for the
World Baseball Classic championship.
In its editorial titled "For the Love of Yakyu," the newspaper said, "What a game! Daisuke Matsuzaka gave up a leadoff homer to Eduardo Paret, but then retired 12 of 15 batters, easily outpitching Ormari Romero and Vicyohandry Odelin."
"Michihiro Ogasawara drove in three runs while Kosuke Fukudome, Hitoshi Tamura and Toshiaki Imae drove in two each. Akinori Otsuka struck out Yulieski Gourriel in the ninth to end the game, and the winners threw their caps, gloves and Sadaharu Oh into the air."