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After losing their opener earlier this past week in the Little League World Series, Tokyo, Japan bounced back in convincing fashion with a rout over Santiago, Dominican Republic of the Caribbean Region at Volunteer Stadium, 10-1, on Saturday afternoon.
Japan jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back from there. Japan held a 5-0 lead in the top of the third before the Dominican Republic scored a run in the bottom of the inning. A one-run top of the fourth inning gave Japan a 6-1 lead and then Japan added four runs in the fifth for a nine-run lead.
Japan collected 10 hits while its pitching and defense held the Dominican Republic to just three hits. Japan also took advantage of five Dominican Republic errors.
Shinnosuke Ijima and Tensei Yazawa both threw three innings apiece as they combined for 12 strikeouts, six each.
Yazawa hit two home runs for Japan while Kei Kawanishi and Ijima both collected doubles.