Matsuzaka throws hard and impressed U.S. manager Tommy Lasorda because he pitched 10 innings. And he looks 14 years old. I don't particularly like keeping pitch counts. I never did. This is the way to get an arm strong.
Olympic baseball is a round-robin competition with four teams emerging in the medal round.
So the U.S. and Japan may meet again. There is also Cuba looming as the U.S. team tries to win its first gold since Seoul in 1988. The Americans were shut out in Barcelona and salvaged a bronze medal as the home team in Atlanta in '96. But Japan cut the deficit to 2-1 in the eighth, then tied the score in the ninth against closer Todd Williams. All rights reserved.