Tokyo
Yanagita, who hit a game-ending two-run homer in Friday’s 7-6 win, singled in a run in the first inning at Tokyo Dome and hit a two-run homer in the third to give his team a 5-0 lead.
“The entire lineup was able to string together hits,” said Japan manager Atsunori Inaba. “I think we are on the right track now, and I would like to see us continue to do the same in the game tomorrow.”
Yanagita singled in another run in the fifth when Japan scored four more runs to take a 9-0 lead.
Shogo Akiyama also had a big night at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
“I thought tonight’s game actually turned early,” MLB manager Don Mattingly said. “They were able to score early. We came out and got first and third and couldn’t score early and we lost momentum right there.”
National League Rookie of the Year finalist Juan Soto got the MLB All-Stars on the board in the fifth, hitting a homer down the left-field line for the second straight game.
Enrique Hernandez and Kevin Pillar drove in runs in the seventh and J. T. Realmuto hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning.
Czechs Put U.S. In 2-0 Fed Cup Hole
Prague
Strycova rallied from a set down to defeat Sofia Kenin, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4. Siniakova stretched the advantage by dispatching Alison Riske, 6-3, 7-6 (2), to the delight of more than 14,000 fans at Prague’s O2 Arena.
“It couldn’t be better,” Siniakova said. “But it’s not finished yet and we need to be ready for tomorrow. We need to stay focused and I believe that we will win.”
The Czechs are one win away from their sixth title in eight years.
U.S. captain captain Kathy Rinaldi gave credit to the Czech players but said, “I really think we could have been up 2-0, too.
“It was just a day of missed opportunities in my opinion. Anything can happen in the Fed Cup and tomorrow’s another day.”
To win, the 18-time champion U.S. would have to become the first team to come back from 2-0 down in the final.
Five Hurt in Princeton Bus Crash
West Haven, Conn.
Police said the bus driver was also injured in Saturday’s crash in West Haven. Yale New Haven Hospital says the students were in good condition and the driver is in fair condition.
Princeton said in a statement that the students were taken to the hospital “as a precaution.”
The students who weren’t injured were put on another bus to the game.
Police say they believe the driver lost control because of a brake issue.
