Top shots around the diamond as Team USA baseball takes silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics
A gold-medal pitchers' duel...
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
Team USA baseball lost a tough battle against Japan in the gold medal game, which turned out to be a pitching clinic from both sides. Japan's Masato Morishita tossed shutout ball across five innings of work while USA starter Nick Martinez had one blemish in six—a home run off the bat of Munetaka Murakami. The final: 2-0. The game ended with two firsts: Team Japan baseball's first gold medal in the Olympics and Team USA baseball's first silver. Although it wasn't a top nod for the U.S. roster, it's still an impressive run—one that will have to wait until 2028 in Los Angeles for any golden redemption. (The 2024 Games have reportedly scratched baseball from the lineup.) In case you missed any of the action around the diamond, here's a look at the scenes from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics men's baseball gold medal game.
U-S-A!
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Team Japan intros
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
Team USA intros
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
Masato Morishita on the hill
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
Keeping it close: Team Japan outfielder Masataka Yoshida (34) is forced out at home by Team USA catcher Mark Kolozsvary (8) in the fourth inning
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
Seiya Suzuki (51) swiped second
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
The pivotal moment: Munetaka Murakami's launch
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
Eddy Alvarez now has medals in the Summer and Winter Olympics
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
Big-time hold in the 7th by Team Japan pitcher Hiromi Itoh
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
Two-bagger from Team Japan's infielder Hideto Asamura
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
Hot corner: Team USA's Todd Frazier (25) throws out Team Japan outfielder Yuki Yanagita
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
Team USA's pitching was solid, including reliever Ryder Ryan
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
Outfielder Christopher Austin tries to get the offense rolling
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
But Japan's pitching kept the bats quiet
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
A close call at home...
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
...but Tetsuto Yamada adds an insurance run against USA in the 8th inning
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
Tough day at the plate for Team USA
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
A force out at second to end it
Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports
An incredible day at the ballpark
(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
An incredible achievement for both teams
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
More from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics: Allyson Felix at the Olympic podium: A look back at the track star's 11 medal-winning moments
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