TODD FRAZIER

Tokyo Olympics Baseball Team Japan celebrate after the gold medal baseball game against the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) (Jae C. Hong)YOKOHAMA, Japan — (AP) — A Japanese team of All-Stars fulfilled a determined national mission to win the Olympic baseball gold medal for the first time, beating the United States 2-0 Saturday night behind Munetaka Murakami’s third-inning home run. Japanese players streamed onto the mound, the relievers rinning in from the bullpen. Japan stopped its major league season on July 17 and allowed top players to assemble for the Olympics. The only others with major league experience were Martinez (2.1), Austin (1.0) and Alvarez (-0.2).

A Japanese team of All-Stars fulfilled a determined national mission to win the Olympic baseball gold medal for the first time, beating the United States 2-0 behind Munetaka Murakami’s third-inning home run.

Day 15 of the Tokyo Games will feature the American women going for gold in basketball, volleyball and water polo.

Yuki Yanagita tied it with an RBI grounder off Scott McGough in the ninth inning, Takuya Kai hit a winning single against Edwin Jackson in the 10th and Japan beat the United States 7-6 Monday night to reach the Olympic semifinals.

At 35 and close to the end of his baseball career, Todd Frazier is on the U.S. Olympic team for the Tokyo Games.

NEW YORK — (AP) — Tampa Bay pitching prospect Shane Baz, 37-year-old left-hander Scott Kazmir and outfielder Bubba Starling were among 10 additions Friday to the U.S. Olympic baseball roster. Miami infielder Eddy Alvarez, a 2014 silver medalist in short-track speedskating, is among the holdovers from the Americas tournament roster. Frazier, released by Pittsburgh in May after going 3 for 35, was the star of the qualifying tournament. Sherfy was brought to the major leagues by San Francisco right after the qualifying tournament. Matt Wieters, cut from the qualifying roster just before the Americas tournament, also was not included.

The Central and Pacific leagues are stopping their seasons between July 14 and Aug. 13 for the Olympic tournament, which runs from July 28 to Aug. 7. OLD-SCHOOL BALLWhile teams do scouting that leads to defensive shifts, these games don’t have Statcast, the modern metrics system that has changed how Major League Baseball is played. The opener will be played in Fukushima, about 180 miles north of Tokyo, and the rest of the baseball tournament at Yokohama, about 20 miles south of Tokyo. COME AND GONECuba won gold medals in 1992, 1996 and 2004, and Tommy Lasorda’s U.S. in 2000. Baseball was dropped after South Korea won in 2008 and has been dropped for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

While most Olympic events are a competition among the best, the better you are in baseball, the less of a chance you have of playing for gold.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — (AP) — The United States qualified for the Olympic baseball tournament on its second try, beating Venezuela 4-2 Saturday night behind Todd Frazier’s home run, four hits and two RBIs. Venezuela advanced to a final qualifying tournament from June 22-26 in Puebla, Mexico, which will determine one more qualifier from a field that also includes Australia, the Dominican Republic, Netherlands and Taiwan. He retired pinch-hitter Alexander Palma, a Milwaukee prospect, on a grounder to Frazier for the final out. Japan, which is stopping the Central and Pacific League seasons to make its top players available, is considered the Olympic favorite. Major League Baseball doesn’t allowed its big league players to participate and MLB general managers often discourage the use of top eligible prospects.

Orioles Mariners Baseball Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher John Means throws to a Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in Seattle. Vander Meer is the only pitcher in major league history with consecutive no-hitters, accomplished in 1938 for the Cincinnati Reds. Marcus Stroman (3-3, 2.12) hopes to anchor New York's rotation until Jacob deGrom returns. Voit slugged 22 homers during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and led the team with 52 RBIs. The Pirates signed Frazier to a minor league contract after he spent last season with the Texas Rangers and New York Mets.

Orioles ace John Means got five days of rest following his no-hitter last week against Seattle, and now he’ll try to match Johnny Vander Meer’s record with a second straight no-no against the streaking Mets.

Orioles Mariners Baseball Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher John Means throws to a Seattle Mariners during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in Seattle. Means threw a no-hitter as the Orioles won 6-0. Vander Meer is the only pitcher in major league history with consecutive no-hitters, accomplished in 1938 for the Cincinnati Reds. FIRST-PLACE TEAMS AT FENWAYBoston hosts Oakland in the opener of a series between American League division leaders at Fenway Park. The Pirates signed Frazier to a minor league contract after he spent last season with the Texas Rangers and New York Mets.

The two-time AL Central champion Twins are hoping Happ can give them a veteran presence at the back of their rotation. Ian Anderson pitched two scoreless innings, allowing three hits and a walk. Houston piggy-backed a pair of starters with Framber Valdez yielding McNeil's homer in the first two innings, striking out two. AdBLUE JAYS 4, PHILLIES 2 (6)Steven Matz allowed a hit in two scoreless innings, striking out three without a walk. CUBS 3, ROYALS 2 (7)Outfielder Rafael Ortega, who signed a minor league deal with Chicago after playing 34 games for Atlanta last season, hit a bases-loaded triple.

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Mike Clevinger delivers in the first inning in a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2020, in Cleveland. Mike Clevinger, Starling Marte, Archie Bradley and Todd Frazier were on the move. Baseball's pandemic-delayed trade deadline was quite a day. The contending Padres got Clevinger in a multiplayer trade with Cleveland, bolstering their rotation Monday in a rare deadline deal between contenders. The trade deadline is normally July 31, but it was pushed back when the start of the season was delayed because of the coronavirus.

(AP Photo/Roger Steinman)ARLINGTON, Texas Cody Bellinger and the Los Angeles Dodgers set the National League record for home runs in a month. Bellinger's two-run homer gave the Dodgers 57 long balls in August after solo shots from Corey Seager and Will Smith, and LA beat the Texas Rangers 7-2 on Sunday. They now have 12 straight series victories to start the season tied for the fifth-best season-opening run since 1969. The 1990 Cincinnati Reds have the record with 17 straight series wins to start the year. ... 2B Rougned Odor missed his sixth straight game with a right eye infection.

San Diego Padres' Wil Myers (4) follows through on a grand slam swing in the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)ARLINGTON, Texas Wil Myers hit a first-inning grand slam and the San Diego Padres, with Fernando Tatis Jr. again leading the charge, beat the Texas Rangers 6-4 Tuesday for a two-game sweep. Four of Texas five hits off seven Padres pitchers came in the fourth inning, including Joey Gallos three-run homer. Padres RHP Chris Paddack (2-2, 4.91) allowed five home runs in his previous two starts over 8 2/3 innings. Rangers RHP Lance Lynn (3-0, 1.11) leads the majors in ERA and comes off his first complete game since 2014.

Oakland Athletics' Stephen Piscotty celebrates with teammates after a game-ending grand slam against the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Oakland, Calif., Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)OAKLAND, Calif. Stephen Piscotty hit Oaklands second walkoff grand slam of the year and the Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 5-1 Tuesday night for their fourth straight win. Volquez retired Robbie Grossman on a popup before Piscotty hit a first-pitch drive over the wall in center to match the opening night 10th-inning slam by Matt Olson against the Angels. The 22-year-old lefty was the youngest As pitcher to start a game since Brett Anderson in 2010 and lived up to the hype. He overpowered the Rangers at times, striking out Joey Gallo on a 96 mph to end the first.