Japan will have a shot at redemption in the Little League World Series. Toms River, N.J.'s game with Phenix City, Ala., in the U.S. final was suspended in the top of the second inning because of rain with Toms River leading, 2-0. It will resume at 11 a.m. this morning with Toms River's Chris Cunningham on first base, no outs and Bryan Woodall having come in to replace Colby Rasmus at pitcher for Phenix City.
Japan has a team in the final for the second consecutive year.
Kashima lost 12-9 to Toms River last year in a game with 11 home runs. Osaka's players avenged Tuesday's 3-1 loss to Yabucoa on Tuesday mostly by hitting singles and taking extra bases when Yabucoa's fielders faltered. Little League games end when the margin reaches 10 runs. Relief pitcher Kazutoshi Adachi left because of stomach pains in the fourth inning. With two outs in the first, shortstop Josue Rivera let Sho Nishida's grounder skip over his glove.