Team USA suffered another heartbreak against Japan in the women's softball competition, losing 2-0 in their gold medal match in the Tokyo Olympics. The Americans failed to get their offense going in the all-important final as they will head home with another silver medal finish.
The United States waited 13 years for this particular rematch after the Japanese stunned the sporting world with their upset of the powerhouse Americans in their gold medal match in the Beijing Olympics. Unfortunately for both nations, softball was removed from the Olympic calendar in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Games.
Japan wins gold in softball's return to Olympics
Given the sport's popularity in Japan, the host nation requested softball to be reinstated for the Tokyo Olympics. Interestingly enough, the main protagonists in that fateful 2008 gold medal clash returned 13 years later to have one final shot at Olympic glory.
Indeed, the starting pitchers for both nations on Tuesday were the same ones who started 13 years ago in the final in Beijing. The 39-year-old softball legend Yukiko Ueno started the gold medal game for Japan while 38-year-old Texan Cat Osterman was selected as Team USA's starting pitcher.
The veterans engaged in a pitchers' duel in the early stages as both starters didn't allow a single run in the first three innings. That changed at the top of the fourth inning when Japan pierced a two-out rally. Atsumi Mana, Japan's No. 9 hitter, drove in a run with an infield hit to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. The Japanese doubled that advantage at the top of the fifth inning after Fujita lined an RBI single.
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Ueno leads Japan to gold medal win
Just like in 2008, it was Ueno who prevailed in the end, throwing six shutout innings, as she held Team USA to just two hits while striking out five batters. Ueno retired eight consecutive batters at one point as she stymied the US offense to cap her glittering international career with yet another gold medal.
Japan's victory would not be possible though, without the heroics of its infielders. Team USA threatened at the bottom of the sixth inning, putting runners on first and second with just one out. With Ueno benched at that point and Miu Goto on the circle, the Americans were ready to pounce and swing the momentum in their favor.
It certainly looked that way after Amanda Chidester lined a rocket down the left line, which hit the left wrist of third baseman Yu Yamamoto. Unfortunately for the Americans, the ball ricocheted into the glove of shortstop Atsumi, who then doubled off the runner at second base to end the US threat.
Team USA kept the game close in the seventh inning when Janie Reed robbed the Japanese of a two-run homer with a marvelous leaping grab in left field. Ueno ended Team USA's comeback bid, though, retiring all three batters she faced at the bottom of the seventh inning to win the gold.
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