Japan Sports News

SAPPORO -- Seiji Aochi, a bronze medalist ski jumper and member of the "Rising Sun Air Squadron" -- a trio of Japanese athletes who dominated the podium in the ski jump event at the Sapporo Winter Olympics -- has died of gastric cancer. He was 66.

Born in the western Hokkaido city of Otaru in June 1942, Aochi attended Meiji University before joining Snow Brand Milk Products Co.

At the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, he won a bronze medal with a jump of 70 meters in the Normal Hill event, and was joined on the podium by fellow countrymen Akitsugu Konno (silver) and fellow Meiji alumnus Yukio Kasaya (gold). They were dubbed the "Rising Sun Air Squadron" by the press.

Protege and ski jump gold medalist Masahiko Harada, now coach of the Snow Brand Milk ski club, said of his former mentor: "It came so quickly. I'll miss his energy and advice."

"I have one memory in particular of him telling me to give my best for the ski club, and also of him saying to become a good man," he recalled.

The funeral service for Aochi will be held at 9 a.m. on Sunday, at Aoyagi Ceremony Hall in Higashi-ku, Sapporo.

TOKYO (AP) -- J.D. Drew hit his second homer in two exhibition games to lead the World Series champion Boston Red Sox over the Yomiuri Giants 9-2 in the Tokyo Dome on Sunday.

It was a good sign that Drew was ready for a strong start to his second Major League Baseball season with Boston. That begins on Tuesday with the first of two games in the same arena against the Oakland Athletics.

"I'm just going to keep a positive attitude, try to take good quality at bats and pick up where I left off last season," Drew said . "Hopefully, we can just roll into a good start of the season."

Drew's grand slam in the sixth inning gave Boston its first lead in the win that was a homecoming for reliever Hideki Okajima.

Boston's left-hander had spent 11 of his 12 seasons in Japan with the Giants before signing with the Red Sox before last season. His 2.22 ERA with Boston was lower than any he posted in nine full seasons with Yomiuri.

He relieved Bryan Corey, who played for the Giants in 2004, with a 4-2 lead entering the bottom of the seventh, allowed one hit and retired the side on a fly out and a double play grounder in his only inning.

Okajima's pitches from the familiar mound were greeted by camera flashes from the crowd.

"That was a feel good moment for us," manager Terry Francona said. "I was actually going to take him out so the fans could have a moment to appreciate it, but then there was a double play."

Drew had hit a three-run homer in the first inning of Saturday's 6-5 exhibition win over the Hanshin Tigers.

Sunday's grand slam gave Boston a 4-2 lead in the sixth against Adrian Burnside, who spent the past 12 seasons in the minors, the last in the San Diego system.

Boston starter Tim Wakefield allowed two runs in five innings on an RBI single by Lee Seung-youp in the first and a double-play grounder in the fourth.

The Red Sox added three runs in the eighth on Jed Lowrie's homer and Brandon Moss' two-run single. They made it 9-2 in the ninth on Coco Crisp's RBI triple and Alex Cora's run-scoring single.

GOTEBORG, Sweden (AP) -- Mao Asada of Japan won the women's title at the World Figure Skating Championships on Thursday night, overcoming a big fall going into a planned triple axel.

Italy's Carolina Kostner won the silver, despite putting her hands down twice on jumps. South Korea's Kim Yu-na, who missed a competition last month because of a hip injury, took third.

Earlier Thursday, Isabelle Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder of France widened their lead in the ice dancing competition.

Great things have been expected of Asada since she won the junior world title in 2005. She won the senior Grand Prix final the following year, and would have been a medal favorite at the Turin Olympics had she been old enough to compete. She was second at the world championships last year, and battled Kim for the top spot this year.

With Kim missing last month's Four Continents in her native South Korea because of injury, Asada arrived in Sweden as the woman to beat.

The audience groaned in synch when she slid into her opening jump, what was supposed to be the tough triple axel.

"My heart also stopped," Mao said, referring to her fall.

But the error was soon forgotten as she did six triple jumps, a double axel-double loop-double-loop combination and, in the final seconds, a double axel. She finished second to Kim in the free skate, but her total score of 185.56 points was enough to give her the gold.

Kostner had 184.68 points while Kim had 183.23 points.

Miki Ando, last year's world champion, withdrew two elements into her program because of a muscle strain and a partial rupture of her left leg. Cameras showed tears streaming down her face as she made the decision to quit.

In ice dance, Delobel and Schoenfelder are in good position to make their first world medal a gold one. With 107.98 points going into Friday's free dance, they have a four-point lead and Olympic silver medalists Tanith Belbin and Benjamin Agosto are still stuck in fifth place.

Jana Khokhlova and Sergei Novitski of Russia are now second, passing Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir in the original dance. But the margin between the two couples is slim, with the Russians just .45 points ahead: 103.97 to 103.52.

Belbin and Agosto came into worlds favored to become the first U.S. couple to win a world dance title. But a rare fall in compulsories dropped them to fifth place and, despite finishing fourth in the original dance, they weren't able to make up any ground in the standings.

TOKYO (AP) -- Yokozuna Asashoryu threw out Hakuho on Sunday to take the title back from his archrival at the Spring Grand Tournament.

In a grudge match in the tournament finale, Asashoryu got both arms around Hakuho, twisting him around and out of the straw ridge with an arm-bar throw at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.

It was Asashoryu's chance to exact revenge on his opponent, who had spoiled his comeback from a two-tournament suspension on the last day of the New Year tournament two months ago in Tokyo.

Asashoryu, who secured his 22nd Emperor's Cup with 13 victories against two losses, almost got teary and rubbed his eyes with a hand towel as his hair dresser fixed his topknot before the award ceremony.

The Mongolian, however, was all smiles when reappeared to receive his giant trophy.

"I wanted to turn the disappointment (of past defeat) into the happiness of winning here," Asashoryu said. "As grand champion, I only focused on winning the title."

Hakuho, also from Mongolia, ended up with a disappointing 12-3, and his tournament winning streak stopped at three.

OSAKA, Japan (AP) -- Grand champion Asashoryu had an easy win over Ama to retain the sole lead at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament and extend his undefeated record Monday.

In the day's final bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Asashoryu gave several powerful thrusts into his opponent's chest, pushing the sekiwake out of the ring to extend his winning streak to a perfect 9-0 in the 15-day tourney.

Asashoryu, who sat out two tournaments last year after being suspended for bad behavior, is seeking his 22nd Emperor's Cup.

Mongolian Ama, who succumbed to the grand champion's powerful push, fell to 4-5.

In other major bouts, another Mongolian grand champion Hakuho tightly gripped sekiwake Kotoshogiku, bulldozing him to the ringside to give him a final push out of the straw ridge.

Bidding for his fourth straight Emperor's Cup, Hakuho stood one victory behind Asashoryu to share the second place at 8-1 with two lower-ranked wrestlers Takamisakari and Homasho. Kotoshogiku dropped to 4-5.

Takamisakari, who is maegashira No. 11, shoved out Otsukasa, while Homasho, a No. 13 maegashira, bulldozed out Kakizoe.

Ozeki Kaio tripped Asasekiryu at the ring's edge, sending the top-ranked maegashira to the dirt floor. Kaio improved to 7-2, while Asasekiryu dipped to 4-5.

OSAKA (AP) -- Yokozuna Asashoryu threw down Kyokutenho to stay in the sole lead at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament with a perfect record Tuesday.

In the day's final bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Asashoryu grabbed his opponent's belt and sent the No. 4 maegashira to the dirt floor with an underarm throw to extend his winning streak to a 10-0 perfect record in the 15-day tournament.

Mongolian Asashoryu, who was suspended from two tournaments last year due to bad behavior, is seeking his 22nd Emperor's Cup.

Kyokutenho slipped to 7-3.

In other major bouts, another Mongolian grand champion Hakuho gripped Wakanosho from both sides, bulldozing the fourth-ranked maegashira out of the straw ridge. Wakanosho fell to 5-5.

Bidding for his fourth straight Emperor's Cup, Hakuho stood one victory behind Asashoryu to share the second place at 9-1 with lower-ranked Tochiozan, who shoved out Homasho.

Ozeki Kaio succumbed to a powerful ringside push by equal-ranked Chiyotaikai, leaving both at 7-3.

Baruto, a No. 7 maegashira from Estonia, grabbed Takamisakari's belt and lifted out the lower-ranked opponent, handing both of them a 8-2 record.

OSAKA (AP) -- Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu overpowered Chiyotaikai on Wednesday to stay in the lead at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.

After being shoved back to the edge by Chiyotaikai, Asashoryu twisted the ozeki wrestler around at the edge before using an arm throw to improve to a perfect 11-0.

Chiyotaikai, who needs a winning record in the 15-day tourney to maintain his ozeki status, dropped to 7-4 in the 15-day tourney.

Asashoryu, who was suspended from two tournaments last year due to bad behavior, is seeking his 22nd Emperor's Cup.

His bid for the title will likely hinge on a final-day bout with Mongolian rival Hakuho, who defeated fellow Mongolian Ama to stay one win back at 10-1.

Hakuho, who is gunning for his fourth straight title, got a grip on the belt of Ama and threw the sekiwake down in the day's final bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.

Hakuho defeated Asashoryu on the final day of the New Year tournament in January and the Spring tournament is shaping up to be repeat performance by the two Mongolian grand champions.

With four days left, lower-ranked wrestlers Baruto and Tochiozan, who both stand at 9-2, look to be the only wrestlers with a shot at contending with them for the title.

Elsewhere, veteran ozeki Kaio forced out Tokitenku to improve to 8-3. Tokitenku, a No. 3 maegashira, dropped to 4-7.

TOKYO (AP) -- Yokozuna Asashoryu rebounded from a shocking opening-day loss, defeating Estonian wrestler Baruto at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday.

Asashoryu, who is aiming for his 23rd Emperor's Cup, grabbed his opponent by the belt with both hands, then toppled him to the ground with a twisting underarm throw. The Mongolian improves his tournament record to 1-1.

In the last bout of the day, Asashoryu's main rival Hakuho was in top form again, driving Kokkai of Georgia out of the ring for a comfortable win.

Hakuho, also a yokozuna from Mongolia, will be looking to avenge a final-day loss to Asashoryu at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament in March.

In other major second-day bouts, Bulgarian wrestler Kotooshu defeated Kyokutenho of Mongolia, improving his record to 2-0. Kotooshu, who is in danger of being demoted, must emerge from the 15-day meet with a winning record to keep his ozeki status.

Fellow ozeki Kotomitsuki remained perfect with a victory over Wakanoho of Russia, as did ozeki Chiyotaikai who managed to thrust Kisenosato out of the ring despite nursing an injured right elbow.

Ozeki Kaio didn't fare as well Monday, dropping to 1-1 after losing to Asasekiryu of Mongolia.

The sekiwake-ranked wrestlers went two for two. Mongolian Ama forced out No. 3 maegashira and fellow Mongolian Kakuryu, while Kotoshogiku prevailed over former ozeki Miyabiyama.

OSAKA (AP) -- Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu overpowered Toyonoshima on Thursday to stay tied for the lead at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.

Asashoryu spun Toyonoshima around after the faceoff and shoved the No. 3 maegashira off the raised ring to keep his slate clean at 5-0. Toyonoshima dropped to 0-5.

Lower-ranked wrestlers Hokutoriki, Kokkai and Homasho also won Thursday to stay tied for the lead in the 15-day tourney.

In the day's final bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Mongolian grand champion Hakuho bounced back from Wednesday's loss to Aminishiki with a one-sided win over winless No. 2 maegashira Miyabiyama.

Hakuho, who is gunning for his fourth straight Emperor's Cup, used an arm throw to defeat Miyabiyama to improve to 4-1.

In other major bouts, No. 2 maegashira Aminishiki came bursting out of the blocks and overpowered Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu to pick up his third win against a pair of losses.

Kotooshu was completely caught off guard at the faceoff and dropped to 2-3.

Ozeki Chiyotaikai stayed one win off the pace at 4-1 when he used his trademark arm thrusts to send winless komusubi Takekaze off the raised ring.

Ozeki Kaio got both arms around Kotoshogiku and waltzed the sekiwake out to improve to 4-1. Kotoshogiku fell to 1-4.

Ozeki Kotomitsuki posted his second straight win and improve to 2-3 when No. 3 maegashira Tokitenku lost his balance at the center of the ring to fall to 2-3.

OSAKA, Japan (AP) -- Grand champion Asashoryu moved into sole possession of the lead on Sunday with a win over Wakanoho at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament.

In the day's final bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Asashoryu got both hands on the belt of his opponent and lifted the No. 4 maegashira out to improve to a perfect 8-0 in the 15-day tourney.

Asashoryu, who sat out two tournaments last year after being suspended for bad behavior, is bidding for his 22nd Emperor's Cup and has looked strong through the first week of the tournament.

Lower-ranked wrestlers Homasho and Tochiozan, who were tied with Asashoryu heading into Sunday's bouts, both lost earlier matches.

Wakanoho, who is from Russia, was no match for the determined grand champion and fell to 4-4.

In other major bouts, Mongolian grand champion Hakuho prevailed in a bout against Tokitenku after getting a grip of the belt and hoisting the No. 3 maegashira out over the straw ridge.

Hakuho, who is gunning for his fourth straight Emperor's Cup, improved to 7-1 and equal second while Tokitenku dropped to 3-5.

Chiyotaikai tried to use his trademark arm thrusts against Mongolian Ama, but the resourceful sekiwake got both hands on the chest of the ozeki wrestler and shoved him out to improve to 4-4.

Chiyotaikai, who needs a winning record in this tournament to maintain his ozeki status, dropped to 6-2.

No. 3 maegashira Toyonoshima finally picked up his first win of the tournament when he forced out struggling Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu, who saw his record fall to 2-6.

Ozeki Kaio improved to 6-2 when he shoved out fellow ozeki Kotomitsuki, who has had a poor showing thus far and dropped to 2-6.

TOKYO (AP) -- Yokozuna pair Asashoryu and Hakuho both made quick work of their opponents Wednesday on the fourth day of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament.

Hakuho toppled fellow Mongolian Kyokutenho with a powerful overarm throw that sent the No. 2 maegashira tumbling onto the ring.

The yokozuna improves to a perfect 4-0 in his quest for his seventh title victory, and looks to avenge a final-day loss in March to archrival Asashoryu at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament. Kyokutenho fell to 1-3.

Russia's Wakanoho had a shot at pulling off another upset against Asashoryu, but the Mongolian executed an aggressive, well-timed armlock throw at the edge of the ring against the No. 2 maegashira.

Despite a shocking opening-day loss, the confident Asashoryu improved to 3-1 in his march toward a 23rd Emperor's Cup. A victory would move him into fourth place on the all-time title list.

Kotooshu, who must post a winning record at the 15-day meet to maintain his ozeki status, gained more momentum with a victory over winless Kokkai of Georgia. With a frontal push down from the left, the Bulgarian rammed the No. 1 maegashira into the clay.

Kotooshu is now 4-0, sharing the early lead with Hakuho and Toyonoshima.

Kotomitsuki rebounded from a loss the previous day by outlasting Baruto of Estonia, who succumbed to an inner thigh twist down. The ozeki improves his record to 3-1, while Baruto remains winless.

It was a bad day, however, for the two other ozeki-ranked wrestlers.

No. 3 maegashira Miyabiyama handed veteran Kaio his third straight loss with a slap down near the edge of the ring. Kaio and Miyabiyama are both at 1-3.

Chiyotaikai was forced out of the ring by Asasekiryu of Mongolia, sliding to 2-2 for the tournament.

In other bouts on day four, Ama had Kisenosato under control but victory slipped away after the sekiwake fell over the edge at the last second. Ama of Mongolia dropped to 2-2, while komusubi-ranked Kisenosato improved to 3-1.

OSAKA (AP) -- Asashoryu defeated Takekaze on Saturday to stay tied for the lead while Hakuho remained one win back of his fellow grand champion and Mongolian compatriot at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournanment.

Asashoryu wasted little time in forcing out komusubi Takekaze to stay in a three-way tie for the lead at 7-0 with lower-ranked wrestlers Tochiozan and Homasho, who both won earlier bouts.

Asashoryu, who is making a comeback after missing two tournaments last year for bad behavior, and a last-day loss to Hakuho in January, is bidding for his 22nd Emperor's Cup.

In the day's final bout at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Hakuho posted a hard-fought win over komusubi Kisenosato to improve to 6-1 in the 15-day tourney.

Hakuho is gunning for his fourth straight Emperor's Cup and looked sharp against Kisenosato, who dropped to 3-4.

In other major bouts, ozeki Kaio overpowered Mongolian sekiwake Ama to pick up his fifth win against a pair of losses. Ama fell to 3-4.

Ozeki Chiyotaikai used his trademark arm thrusts to send Kakuryu off the raised ring while improving to 6-1.

Top maegashira Kakuryu stands at 3-4.

No. 2 maegashira Aminishiki defeated struggling ozeki Kotomitsuki to improve to 4-3. Kotomitsuki fell to 2-5.

Bulgarian ozeki Kotooshu also continues to struggle and was swatted down by Tokitenku to drop to 2-5. Third-ranked maegashira Tokitenku improved to 3-4.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Japan's Gamba Osaka, Kuwait champions Al Qadsia and 2007 runners-up Al Karama of Syria will all advance to the Asian Champions League quarterfinals with wins in the penultimate round of the first stage Wednesday.

Only the winners of the seven groups progress to the final eight, where they will be joined by defending champions Urawa Reds of Japan.

Osaka, which has won just one of its last five league games in Japan, enjoys a five point advantage in Group G and even a draw at the Thai home of Chonburi FC will send the Kansai team into the knockout stage for the first time.

Bottom club Melbourne Victory travels to South Korea to face Chunnam Dragons, which must win its last two games to have any chance of overtaking Gamba.

Australia's other representative, Adelaide United, is in a much healthier position on top of Group E and hosts the tournament's other South Korean team Pohang Steelers. A win will see Adelaide take a giant step toward becoming the first Australian team to progress to the knockout stage.

Adelaide could be helped by the fact that the already-eliminated Korean champion is in the middle of the K-League season and is likely to field a weakened team, while the host has problems of its own with defenders Cassio and Angelo Costanzo out along with striker Bruce Djite.

Changchun Yatai is the only threat to Adelaide and the Chinese team visits last-placed Vietnamese team Binh Duong on the back of three successive defeats in the China league.

Changchun, currently two points behind Adelaide, hosts the Australians in the final game.

Despite a 1-0 defeat at Beijing Guoan two weeks ago, Kashima Antlers is still top of Group F on goal difference and hosts Krung Thai Bank. The Thai team is looking to avenge a 9-1 opening round defeat, although avoiding another humiliation will be enough.

Kashima could be without talismanic striker Marquinhos after the Brazilian picked up an injury in last weekend's 3-2 loss at Kawasaki Frontale.

"The injury to Marquinhos might have done some psychological damage to our players," said Kashima's Brazilian coach Oswaldo Oliveira.

Beijing hosts Nam Dinh of Vietnam and will likely take the three points to keep up with Kashima but a vastly inferior goal difference could count against the Chinese team.

Al Karama of Syria only needs to avoid defeat at the United Arab Emirates' Al Wahda to top Group C and reach the last eight for the third consecutive year.

Qatar powerhouse Al-Sadd has a faint chance of overhauling Al Karama if the Syrians lose, but nothing less than a win against Saudi struggler Al-Ahli will suffice.

Group A outsider Kuruvchi of Uzbekistan could book an unlikely quarterfinal spot in its first attempt if results go its way. Kuruvchi hosts two-time continental champions Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia.

"We are well prepared for this match," Al Ittihad's Argentine coach Gabriel Calderon said. "It is very important for us, and hopefully we can get a win to go back to the top place in the group."

A win for the Uzbeks will be enough if 2007 runner-up Sepahan of Iran fails to win at Syria's Al-Ittihad.

Saipa, which defeated Sepahan in the Iranian league last week, controls Group B with a three-points buffer at the top. Club coach Ali Daei is also in charge of the Iran national team and publicly criticized his bosses in Tehran last week.

The former Bayern Munich striker will be feeling happier if his Saipa team defeats Kuwait Sports Club at home. Those three points will send the team to the last eight if second placed Al Quwa Al Juwiya fails to defeat UAE's Al Wasl.

Al Wasl may be in last place but is not giving up hope. "We will keep our hopes alive and fight in Wednesday's clash to win the three points and wait for our last match at home against Saipa," said team manager Esmail Rashid.

Group D's representative in the quarterfinals depends on the clash between leaders Al Qadsia of Kuwait and Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor. A draw will send the West Asian team through. The match between Al Gharafa of Qatar and Iraqi team Arbil match is meaningless.

GIFU -- Gifu Shinkin Bank will boost interest paid on term deposits if schoolboy golf prodigy Ryo Ishikawa wins a tournament on the Japan tour this season, bank officials said.

Should the high school boy-cum golf pro win one of the 16 tournaments on this year's Japan Tour, it will raise the interest on yearlong term deposits by 0.1 percentage points.

Bank officials said the increase will be a one-off regardless of how many victories racked up by the golfer popularly known as "The Bashful Prince."

The term deposits eligible in the program are year-long plans that pay interest of 0.5 percent, already 0.15 points higher than other year-long term deposits the bank offers.

Term deposits can be made in amounts from 100,000 yen to 5 million yen. The bank will accept deposits until July 25, or until the fund reaches 20 billion yen, whichever comes first.

TOKYO (AP) -- The president of the International Baseball Federation on Thursday defended the new tie-breaking rule that will be used at the Beijing Olympics following Japan's complaints.

IBAF president Harvey Schiller said the rule change, designed to shorten the length of games that go into extra innings, was endorsed by the executive committee of the IBAF and was actually a modification of a proposal made by Japan in April.

Under the new rule, each team's at-bat in the 11th inning and beyond will begin with runners on first and second bases. Teams may start the 11th at any point in their batting order under the changes announced Friday by the IBAF.

"Discussion of ending a game in a timely fashion has been going on for years," Schiller said at a press conference. "We have discussed the tiebreaker for many months and it will be in effect in Beijing."

Japan's baseball federation sent a letter to the IBAF this week asking not to use the tie-breaking rule in Beijing.

Senichi Hoshino, the manager of Japan's national team, complained that to institute a new rule this close to the Olympics was 'odd.'

Schiller said Japan was the only country among the eight taking part in the baseball tournament in Beijing that sent a letter to the IBAF objecting to the new rule.

Sending a team made up entirely of players from its professional leagues, Japan is a leading contender for the gold medal in Beijing.

Schiller said the extra innings rule is part of baseball's efforts to be reinstated for the 2016 Olympics.

Baseball and softball had been dropped from the roster of sports for the 2012 London Games, and officials are aiming to have the restored thereafter.

"We need to modernize our game to get it back in the Olympic program," Schiller said.

TOKYO (AP) -- Venezuelan native Luis Gonzalez of Japan's Yomiuri Giants has been given a one-year suspension for failing a drug test, the commissioner of Japanese professional baseball announced Monday.

Gonzalez, an infielder with the Giants who formerly played with the Colorado Rockies, was given a drug test on April 30 after a game between the Giants and the Hiroshima Carp.

Results of the test showed that Gonzalez had clobenzorex, amphetamine, and p-hydroxyamphetamine in his system.

"This is a big setback," Japanese baseball commissioner Yasuchika Negoro said Monday. "What we need to do is to handle the matter properly in order to prevent something like this happening again."

Yomiuri officials said the club plans to release the 28-year-old shortly.

Gonzalez denied use of any illegal drugs when he was interviewed by club representative Hidetoshi Kiyotake on May 19.

Amphetamines, often used illegally as a recreational club drug and as a performance enhancer, are banned by Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball.

Gonzalez becomes the second player in Japanese professional baseball history to be suspended for failing a drug test.

The first was pitcher Rick Guttormson of the Softbank Hawks, who was suspended for 20 days in 2007 for testing positive for Finasteride, which was in a hair-growing agent the 30-year-old Guttormson had been taking for two years.

Gonzalez, who played for the Rockies from 2004-2006, had played in 32 games for the Giants this season and had 35 hits with two homers and 17 RBIs.

SAITAMA, Japan (AP) -- Lukas Podolski scored a hat trick to lead Bayern Munich over Japan's Urawa Reds 4-2 Thursday.

Miroslav Klose opened the scoring for German champion Bayern at the start of the friendly match at Saitama Stadium and Podolski added two more before the break to give Juergen Klinsmann's team a 3-0 lead.

Tsukasa Umesaki cut the lead to 3-1, but Podolski added another in the 62nd minute before Yuki Abe completed the scoring for the home side.

Podolski was voted best young player at the 2006 World Cup, and led runner-up Germany with three goals as a midfielder at this year's European Championship, but has struggled to find his best form with Bayern.

Bayern was playing without many of its top players, who didn't make the 12-hour trip either because of injuries or preparation for the Olympics.

This is the third trip to Japan for Bayern, who have agreed to play in Japan every second year.

Urawa is coached by German Gert Engels and is currently second in the J-League.

In other friendlies played Thursday, Yokohama F Marinos and Germany's VfL Bochum played to a 1-1 draw while FC Tokyo defeated Paraguay's Olimpia 1-0.

TOKYO (AP) -- Being overshadowed by bigger stars is nothing new for Oakland Athletics pitcher Joe Blanton. Going up against a national hero is another story.

Blanton will be on the mound Tuesday when the A's take on the World Series champion Boston Red Sox and Daisuke Matsuzaka in Japan.

Talk about a home field advantage. Matsuzaka will have a sold-out Tokyo Dome crowd and an entire nation behind him. Blanton will have his teammates and, at best, a smattering of Oakland fans in the stands.

"I'm pitching against him but not facing him," Blanton said Monday. "I'm facing the hitters so I just go out there and pitch my best and try not to worry about the other stuff."

As if having to face Matsuzaka wasn't enough, Blanton will be making the first opening day start of his career and his debut as Oakland's probable ace.

"Being able to start the MLB season is very special," said Blanton. "In the back of my mind I'll know it's not just like any other game but that's how I'll have to treat it."

Since making his debut as a starter in the 2005, Blanton has been a model of consistency for the A's, winning 42 games over three seasons while making at least 32 starts each year.

The 6-foot-3 right-hander has always played in the shadows of bigger stars like Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito and 2007 American League All-Star starter Dan Haren but will be Oakland's main man this season.

When the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired Haren from the A's for six prospects in December, Blanton became the leading candidate to be Oakland's No, 1 guy.

Oakland manager Bob Geren gave Blanton plenty of time to prepare for Tuesday's start when he tabbed him to be the opening day starter before spring training started.

Geren has complete confidence in his starter.

"Matsuzaka is one of the best pitchers in the American League but my pitcher is also one of the best in the league and he's earned this start," said Geren.

Blanton, who went 14-10 with a 3.95 ERA last season for Oakland, said he has had more than enough time to adjust to the conditions in Tokyo.

"After we got here we've had two games and another day to practice," said Blanton. "So I think the timing for Tuesday is pretty much perfect."

The A's played two exhibition games at Tokyo Dome after arriving in Japan on Thursday. They beat the Yomiuri Giants 4-3 on Saturday and pounded the Hanshin Tigers 10-2 on Sunday.

Right-hander Rich Harden has been slated to start Wednesday's game against Boston's Jon Lester.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Chiba Lotte Marines manager Bobby Valentine thinks Major League Baseball should consider following Japan's example and allow its players to compete in the Olympics, a move that might lead to the sport's readmission for the 2016 games.

Only players not on 25-man MLB rosters can be considered for the Beijing Olympics in August. The International Olympic Committee dropped baseball from the 2012 Games in London, partly because it was unhappy the best players aren't allowed to compete.

Valentine began his second stint as the manager of Japan's Marines in the 2004 and suggests MLB follow the example of the Japanese leagues.

"We have only 12 teams. We are sending a team of 28 players. There are a few players from each team leaving," he said. "Think if MLB sent a team -- it might be one player from each team, even though there are many different countries represented in MLB."

Valentine spoke from Tokyo during a video news conference Wednesday night to promote "The Zen of Bobby V.," a documentary by Andrew Jenks, Jonah Quickmire Pettigrew and Andrew Muscato that is being screened at the Tribeca Film Festival. It will be televised by ESPN2 on May 13 -- the manager's 58th birthday.

He was a contentious figure while managing the Texas Rangers (1985-92) and New York Mets (1996-2002). In Japan, Valentine is more revered.

"I came here in '95 and I gave a good effort but not my best effort," he said. "I think when I returned in 2004 and then won a championship with a community and a team in 2005, the fans understood totally my passion, my commitment, what I was here for -- that was to not only earn a living and enjoy what I enjoy most in life, and that's managing a baseball team, but making Japanese baseball as good as it could possibly be.

"And I eat the food and ride the trains and enjoy the culture immensely and even try to speak the language a little," he added, "and that's probably picked up here and there."

Because he's across "the pond" -- as he termed the Pacific Ocean -- it's hard for him to keep track of what's going on in the major leagues.

"I do know the Diamondbacks are off to a great start, but I can't tell you who's hurt on the Mets," he said. "I'm sure that the New York teams, playing the last year in their respective stadiums, are going to give their fans more than their money's worth this year, and I think they'll be at the top before it's all said and done. But that's just a gut feeling, it's not based on any knowledge of the teams or the competition."

TOKYO (AP) -- Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona looked stunned.

Might his team actually be playing with the smaller Japanese ball that could mess up their timing four days before their Major Legaue Baseball season opener?

"I was under the impression we were using ours for the whole time. I will check," the manager of the World Series champions said with concern. "That would surprise me."

It turned out the pregame rumor was just that. The balls that Boston used in Saturday's 6-5 exhibition win over the Hanshin Tigers were the same size as the ones David Ortiz slugged for 35 homers last year.

Besides, there were enough differences from the American game without a tinier target to swing at.

Like the two cages and two pitchers Japanese teams use during batting practice so two hitters can alternate swinging very efficiently.

"We were out there in the dugout watching them," Francona said. "It's different. We've never seen that. I want to watch how it works."

Or like the fans in the left field seats of Tokyo Dome who chanted to the sound of a banging drum throughout each inning while Hanshin was at bat.

"The cheers were all in sync," Kevin Youkilis marveled.

Or like the U.S.-trained eyes that looked toward the fences for new pitchers to enter the game only to see them trot out from the dugouts to the mound. As any Japanese baseball fan knows, the bullpens are behind the dugouts.

Boston has three more games in Tokyo -- an exhibition against the Yomiuri Giants on Sunday and the first two games of the regular season against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Athletics beat the Yomiuri Giants 4-3 on Saturday. The major league teams switch opponents on Sunday.

Youkilis was curious about some differences during a walk he took with team translator Jeff Yamaguchi. The first baseman is from Ohio, typical of the Midwest where strangers greet each other on the street. He didn't see that in Tokyo.

So he asked Yamaguchi.

"If you don't know somebody," he said the translator told him, "you don't interact and say, `Hi."'

Youkilis did, however, have a pleasant encounter before the game.

"We had a cab driver today that was great," he said. "He spoke a little bit of English and it worked out real well. We got here on time."

But once the game started, Youkilis couldn't come up with a ground ball hit inside the first base bag that was ruled a single. Now that certainly was different for a sure-handed fielder who was errorless in all 132 games he played at first last season.

"I should have had it," he said.

There were some familiar touches for the Red Sox playing in a stadium known as The Big Egg that has a resemblance to the Metrodome, home of the Minnesota Twins, and even to Fenway Park.

The left field wall is only 13 feet (4 meters) high but is painted virtually the same color as the 37-foot (11-meter) high Green Monster. Ortiz hit his first homer over the shorter wall in his first at bat on Saturday. J.D. Drew hit a three-run shot to left-center later in the four-run first.

"It's always good to produce with men on base," he said.

After the top of the eighth, the strains of Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" filled the stadium, just as they do at the same point in the game at Fenway.

Closer Jonathan Papelbon ended the game, as he often does, with a strikeout. Then "Dirty Water" by The Standells played on the sound system, as it always does after the Red Sox win in Boston.

Youkilis was a big part of the win with RBI singles in the second and the sixth.

Hanshin scored four runs off Clay Buchholz to make it 5-4 in the second on a two-run double by Norihito Akahoshi and a two-run single by Keiichi Hirano.

"Overall, I thought it went pretty well. I left a couple of pitches up over the plate and that hurt," said Buchholz, who lasted 3 2-3 innings.

That was much different from his performance last Sept. 1 -- a no-hitter at Fenway in only his second major league start. Maybe all that drumming and chanting that he's not accustomed to hurt his concentration.

"They were beating and yelling and singing and it was a good experience," Francona said. "I don't know if we knew exactly what to expect, but they were enthusiastic."

Youkilis, for one, is catching on to the culture.

"The bowing," he said. "I understand the farther you bow down, at 45 degrees, it shows more respect. So I've got that down."

FORT MYERS, Florida (AP) -- Big Papi has big plans for the Boston Red Sox's very long flight to Japan -- eat, sleep, and win all of Jonathan Papelbon's money playing cards.

"He's a good player, but he's got bad luck," David Ortiz says. "So he better bring his whole bank account on the airplane. We always kill him. He's loud when he's winning, then boom, he's quiet."

Fortunately for Pap -- and maybe for Papi -- Boston's star closer was rewarded with a $775,000 contract this month, nearly doubling last year's salary of $425,000.

It's players like Papelbon and Ortiz and pitchers Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima who will attract big crowds to the Tokyo Dome to see the World Series champions during a four-game trip that begins when they leave Fort Myers on Wednesday.

The Red Sox and Oakland Athletics each play two exhibition games against Japanese teams on March 22 and 23. Then they face each other in the Major League Baseball regular-season opener on March 25, the earliest start in MLB history,

and again on March 26.

The competition, though, begins on the way over.

"There'll be plenty of poker to play," Papelbon said, "lots of poker. Ortiz better bring his wallet."

___

The journey is a gamble for the Red Sox.

After the New York Yankees went to Japan to start the 2004 season against Tampa Bay, Mike Mussina said he couldn't fall into a normal sleep pattern. Three months after Kevin Brown returned, the pitcher was diagnosed with intestinal parasites, an ailment that he said "would seem to be a distinct possibility" that he picked up in Japan.

"By the time the Yankees team got back from the trip they were all using it as a crutch," Boston general manager Theo Epstein said this spring training.

Responded Mussina: "Yeah, we used it as an excuse for winning the division."

But the Red Sox won their first World Series in 86 years that season, overcoming a 3-0 deficit against the Yankees then sweeping St. Louis.

Just how the early start to this season, the 18-hour flight each way and the jet lag affects the Red Sox remains to be seen. They're trying to take it in stride, even if some players don't relish crossing 12 time zones and the international date line while cooped up in a plane.

Manager Terry Francona knows complaining about the trip won't help.

"I think we all choose to go do it," he said. "We're going to go play wherever they tell us to play, whenever they tell us to play and if we screw it up it's our own fault."

He'd love to start ace Josh Beckett and Matsuzaka against Oakland. Beckett is all but certain to miss the trip with a sore back.

Matsuzaka, whose wife is due to give birth in Boston the day of the flight, may join the team later or skip the trip altogether. That surely would disappoint fans eager to see the return of the pitcher who starred in Japan for eight seasons.

His current teammates have peppered him with questions.

Many of them "asked me to teach them more Japanese phrases and they also had a lot of questions about Japanese food," Matsuzaka said.

"So I can tell that everyone is looking forward to the trip. For the players, it's going to be very physically demanding, but I just hope that we can get a couple wins and those will be our good memories."

If Beckett and Matsuzaka don't go, Jon Lester and Tim Wakefield would be the likely starters against the A's.

Wakefield is excited about the trip, if only because of the monotony of training camp in Florida.

"We're tired of being down here for six weeks," he said. "I don't think anybody's looking forward to the 18-hour flight over there, but I think once we get over there and represent baseball the right way I think everybody's excited to go over there and play."

___

The Red Sox are scheduled to arrive at midnight on Thursday, many of them anticipating the journey because it may be their only chance to visit Japan.

Eleven hours later, some players will take a helicopter to an army base for a clinic and autograph session. Reliever Mike Timlin, a strong supporter of the armed forces, could be one of them.

"Oh, that'd be great," the 42-year-old said. "We can spread Red Sox Nation. We can spread American pride. We can see and speak to soldiers that are stationed there that may have been stationed there for years. It's just a chance to hang out with people that make what our life is possible."

Francona, Okajima and Red Sox coaches will hold a clinic the day before the season opener. There will be the usual formal events -- a welcome party then a MLB party at the U.S. Embassy.

It could be worse. It was for Timlin in 2006 when he played for the United States in the first World Baseball Classic, the tournament in which Matsuzaka was MVP. But that started in early March, hardly enough time in spring training for players to prepare.

That season, for the first time since 2001, Timlin went on the disabled list.

"We had enough time prior to going to Japan that we could start scheduled throwing earlier and do things to make the adjustment to get ready," Timlin said. "Oh, yeah, there were some problems that I went through. Your head's telling you to be competitive and your body's telling you, `Wait, I can't do that yet."'

___

Francona has one overriding goal -- beat Oakland twice.

In the first season-opening series in Japan, the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs split their two games in 2000. The 2003 two-game series between Oakland and Seattle was relocated to the United States because of the war in Iraq.

In the most recent series in Japan in 2004, the Yankees and Tampa Bay also split.

"We'll try to play the best baseball we could," Francona said.

The adjustment will be eased by three exhibition games after they return, all against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. Then the Red Sox have a day off before facing Oakland in regular-season games on April 1 and 2. And then it's on to Toronto for three games before they finally reach Boston the night of April 6, two days before their home opener against Detroit.

"I know I need my third pair of paints," the manager said with a smile. "We go where they send us."

YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) -- Brazilian Marquinhos scored one goal and set up another to lead the Kashima Antlers to a 2-0 win away at Yokohama F Marinos on Sunday and top spot in the J-League standings.

Marquinhos opened the scoring with his league-leading 12th goal 11 minutes in and then assisted on Shinzo Koroki's strike in the 29th minute.

With the win, the defending J-League champions moved back into first place in the standings with 34 points after 18 games, two points clear of Gamba Osaka -- who won 1-0 at last-placed JEF United Chiba -- and the Urawa Reds, who can reclaim top spot if they win at home against Kawasaki Frontale on Monday.

In other matches, Ueslei scored twice in the second half as Oita Trinita came back from a goal down for a 2-1 win over Jubilo Iwata.

Akinori Nishizawa scored a pair of goals to lead Shimizu S-Pulse to a 3-0 win over Albirex Niigata.

Consadole Sapporo and Vissel Kobe played to a 1-1 draw and Tokyo Verdy edged Kashiwa Reysol 2-1.

TOKYO (AP) -- Joe Bryant led his team to the final of the BJ league, Japan's professional basketball league, where they lost to the two-time defending champions.

The Osaka Evessa beat Bryant's Tokyo Apache 66-56 in Sunday's final but the father of Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant said he was proud of his team's performance.

"We held a very good team to 66 points and that's pretty good," said Bryant, who is in his third season coaching in Japan. "I'm proud of them."

Bryant's team was the worst in the league a season ago, finishing with a 12-28 record. This season, the Apache finished second with a 27-17 record.

More than winning titles, Bryant said he takes pride in watching Japanese players on his team develop.

"That's the only reason I'm here, to help the Japanese players," Bryant said. "I really take pride in watching them grow."

Lynn Washington and Mikey Marshall scored 18 points each to lead Osaka.

While Osaka relied mostly on a lineup consisting of Americans, Bryant prefers to give his Japanese players a chance. "You have to let the players play," said Bryant.

Bryant spent eight seasons in the NBA as a forward for the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers and Houston Rockets from 1975 to 1983.

TOKYO (AP) -- Bulgarian Kotooshu made a history in Japan's ancient sport of sumo Saturday as he became the first European to win an Emperor's Cup.

The 25-year-old Bulgarian star needed only one win from his weekend bouts to claim the title, and jump-started Mongolian opponent Ama from the face-off and crashed into the sekiwake's chest, getting both arms wrapped around his "mawashi" belt to bulldoze him over to the side of the ring.

Kotooshu then tackled him from behind, throwing himself on top of the opponent who went smashing down to the dirt surface at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan arena.

The victory lifted Kotooshu, real name Kaloyan Mahlyanov, to a 13-1 record, claiming the title with a bout to spare.

It was the first tournament win in a six-year-long sumo career for the 202-centimeter Bulgarian, who switched to sumo having been an accomplished Greco-Roman wrestler in his homeland.

His father Stefanov stood with cheering crowd, waving a Bulgarian flag to celebrate his son's victory, which took him 34 tournaments since his sumo debut in 2002.

"I'm too overwhelmed to say anything," Kotooshu told a televised interview, smiling modestly. "I'm so happy. I finally did it."

Kotooshu was all smiles after he receded to his locker room, where his got his topknot fixed by a hair dresser.

"I still can't believe it," he said, then hugged his father.

Overall, Kotooshu is the seventh foreign wrestler to win a tournament title, after retired Hawaiian grand champions Akebono and Musashimaru, as well as Mongolian yokozuna Asashoryu and Hakuho.

Hakuho moved to an 11-3 record in this tournament when he shoved out ozeki Kaio, while Asashoryu slammed down ozeki Kotomitsuki, improving his record to 10-4.

NAGOYA, Japan (AP) -- Bulgaria's Kotooshu, the first European to win a major sumo title, came back from an opening-day loss and snatched his first win at the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament on Monday.

The 25-year-old Emperor's Cup defending champion, who is looking for promotion to sumo's highest rank of grand champion, drove out his opponent with several thrusts to rise to 1-1 in the 15-day Nagoya tournament.

Kotooshu, whose real name is Kaloyan Mahlyanov, made sumo history in May by becoming the first European to win an Emperor's Cup. He will reach the highest rank if he takes the title again this tournament.

Mongolian grand champion Asashoryu, 27, beat 20-year-old Russian wrestler Wakanoho by grabbing his belt and quickly throwing him to the ground. Fellow Mongolian grand champion Hakuho also defeated his opponent, Aminishiki, by throwing him down.

Asashoryu, who was upset on the opening day, is aiming for his 23rd Emperor's Cup. Hakuho is shooting for his seventh title. He hasn't won since beating his compatriot on the last day of the New Year's meet.

In other bouts, champion Chiyotaikai won his second bout, while veteran Kaio was twisted down to defeat. Champion Kotomitsuki also won.

MOTEGI, Japan (AP) -- Season points leader Helio Castroneves took pole position Friday for Saturday's Indy Japan 300 after rain washed out qualifying, his third straight top starting position on the 2.4-kilometer Twin Ring Motegi oval.

"I'm sitting in the right spot in the championship to be in this situation and I'll take it," Castroneves said. "We feel we have a consistent car. In the last few years we were very fast here, and I feel we can continue.

"Once you have a good car and (qualifications) are rained out, you prevent a lot of competitors to improve. Hopefully, we can do what we did in 2006."

In 2006, Castroneves was awarded the pole based on entrant points after qualifying was rained out, then led 184 laps en route to the 6.3-second victory.

New Zealand's Scott Dixon, the winner of the season opener at Homestead-Miami Speedway, took the second spot in the front row. Andretti Green teammates Tony Kanaan and Marco Andretti will share Row 2, and Dan Wheldon and Danica Patrick will start in the third row.

As Japanese swimming star Kosuke Kitajima prepared for the final of the men's 100-meter breaststroke, his eyes changed -- like a hawk closing in on its prey.

Years before, those same eyes captured the attention of one man: Kitajima's coach Norimasa Hirai, who has been training Kitajima since the swimmer's second year of junior high school. He noticed how Kitajima never looked to the side, always staring straight ahead, and felt the strength of his determination.

While Kitajima had no major records under his belt at the time, the coach selected him to participate in an intensive training program prior to the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. The move became a cornerstone for Kitajima's success.

Even now Hirai judges Kitajima's form by the expression on his face. On Monday, he showed a different expression from the day before, when the semifinals for the 100-meter event were held.

Kitajima glared down at the water, then let out one deep breath and rose to the starting platform. In the preliminaries and semifinals, Kitajima had been beaten by Norway's Alexander Dale Oen, and his time in the semifinals was slower than his time in the preliminaries. But Kitajima is a swimmer whose true form emerges from adverse conditions.

At the Asian Games in 2002, where Kitajima set a new world record, he had suffered from a bout of diarrhea. And before the Athens Olympic Games two years later, when he won two gold medals, he had been plagued by knee trouble. For Kitajima, pressure is like a detonator that sets him off. This is evident from Kitajima's comment on the Beijing competition: "Because he (Oen) was there, I was able to swim like my normal self."

Japan Swimming Federation deputy chairman Tsuyoshi Aoki, a member of the Tokyo Swimming Center where Kitajima was raised, said that Kitajima was always bettering his own records.

"From his elementary school days he would always produce his personal best time at the biggest event that year. He has