A three-run " goodbye" homer brought China into the final by smashing the Czech Republic 13-1 on Wednesday night in an Olympic baseball test event.
After a 9-2 victory in the two teams' first meet, Chinese baseballers only surrendered one game-tying run in the second inning on a total four hits for the entire game.
The Czech starting pitcher Rehacek Jan and his substitutes just could not stop allowing base hits in the following innings when Chinese earned four runs in the fourth and two in the fifth.
Substituting Zhang Hongbo in the top seventh, Chinese outfielder Li Lei made a game-closing debut by hitting a three-run "goodbye" homer with Lin Xiaofan and Feng Fei on bases in the bottom, since China had led for more than 10 runs.
"I would just tell my boys to relax to play the final with Japan," China's team manager James Lefebvre told Xinhua after the overwhelming game lasted for only two hours.
The manager also said he is confident of the Chinese pitchers who only allowed four hits on Wednesday night.
Zhu Dawei, called back from Japanese Seibu Lion, told Xinhua that China even has chances to beat Japan in the final if Chinese pitchers could successfully suppress rival's batters.
"Japan has many good pitchers who can pitch at a speed of more than 140 kph," said the 19-year-old pitcher who came to Japan with his mother at 11 and holds a Chinese nationality.
Chinese first batter Hou Fenglian said, " Japanese could have more pressure for the final since many of them played in Japanese professional league."
China will meet Japan in the final on Thursday night for the "Good Luck Beijing" international baseball tournament started on 18 Aug.
The Asian No.1 Japan beat France on Wednesday morning with four consecutive wins. France and Czech will play in the bronze medal game on Thursday morning.
Source: Xinhua
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