The Japanese softball team defended its 2008 gold medal on Tuesday after the sport returned to the Olympics this year in Tokyo, and they did it in style, with some stellar defense that dashed the American side's hopes of taking back the crown for the first time since 2004.
Japan was holding on to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth, when the U.S. appeared to have a rally going with runners on first and second and one out. Then, Amanda Chidester stepped up to the plate and laced a line drive to third base only for the ball to deflect off Yu Yamamoto's glove, which allowed shortstop Mana Atsumi to glide over, snag the ball in the air, and flip it back to second to double off the runner and end the inning. The U.S. would get one last turn at bat in the bottom of the seventh, but they went down one-two-three, sealing the deal for Japan. Watch the wild, momentum-changing double play below.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Considering quitting your job? Here's what to do first.The Explainer Your job likely comes with a number of financial strings attached
-
Music reviews: Perfume Genius, Momma, Elton John & Brandi CarlileFeature "Glory," "Welcome to My Blue Sky," and "Who Believes in Angels?"
-
Myth and Marble: Ancient Roman Sculpture From the Torlonia CollectionFeature The private collection is being revealed to the public for the first time in decades
-
Canada beats US in charged 4 Nations hockey finalSpeed Read 'You can't take our country — and you can't take our game,' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted after the game
-
Eagles trounce Chiefs in Super Bowl LIXspeed read The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22
-
Indian teen is youngest world chess championSpeed Read Gukesh Dommaraju, 18, unseated China's Ding Liren
-
Europe roiled by attacks on Israeli soccer fansSpeed Read Israeli fans supporting the Maccabi Tel Aviv team clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters in 'antisemitic attacks,' Dutch authorities said
-
New York wins WNBA title, nearly nabs World SeriesSpeed Read The Yankees with face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the upcoming Fall Classic
-
Caitlin Clark the No. 1 pick in bullish WNBA DraftSpeed Read As expected, she went to the Indiana Fever
-
South Carolina ends perfect season with NCAA titleSpeed Read The women's basketball team won a victory over superstar Caitlin Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes
-
Iowa's Caitlin Clark breaks NCAA scoring recordspeed read College basketball star Caitlin Clark set the new record in Iowa's defeat of Ohio State
