SOMETIMES IT'S BETTER TO BE LUCKY THAN GOOD.

The Far East Region champion Japan took advantage of two errors, two wild pitches, and one passed ball committed by the Latin America Region champion Mexico. Mexico left seven men on base as well.

Besides luck, the Japanese squad earned the win with good pitching and defense. Although they committed four errors, they made the plays when they counted most. Pitcher Tetsuya Furukawa scattered four hits and struck out seven men. His lone mistake came in the sixth inning when he gave up a homerun to Mexico’s catcher Jose Orejel.

Besides luck, the Japanese squad earned the win with good pitching and defense. Although they committed four errors, they made the plays when they counted most. Pitcher Tetsuya Furukawa scattered four hits and struck out seven men. His lone mistake came in the sixth inning when he gave up a homerun to Mexico’s catcher Jose Orejel.

On the offensive side of the ball, Furukawa went 2 for 3 and a walk. He was the only player on Japan to have a multiple-hit game.

Japan scored two in the second, two in the fifth, and two in the sixth. All six runs were aided by errors, wild pitches, and passed balls.

For Mexico, catcher Jose Orejel went 2-3 including that shutout-ending homerun. The entire team hit the ball well but to the wrong places. The aggressive offense could come back to help them.

It was a great opening game for the 1998 World Series. An estimated crowd of 10,250 watched Japan to victory. Game time was one hour and 54 minutes.

--Mark Rogoff
   Special Correspondent