Japan started left-hander Shota Imanaga against a US team with four great power hitters at the top of the lineup. Imanaga gave up a bloop double to Mike Trout, but retired the other three batters easily.

The broadcast noted that Imanaga pitches better against right-handers than lefties. Kudos to manager Hideki Kuriyama for taking advantage of this trait.

When I worked at ESPN, I noticed Tom Glavine owned this type of split. On separate occasions, I asked both Ray Knight and Greg Olson about this (Olson caught Glavine). Both gave the same response, that Glavine threw a dead fish that moved away from right-handers. I then asked each why opposing managers didn’t start more left-handed batters against these pitchers. Again, their responses were the same. The managers did not want to get pilloried in the press by going with a reverse platoon lineup. It looks like the US was not willing to put more lefties at the top of the order against Imanaga, either.

Update: Right hander Trea Turner takes Imanaga deep for a 1-0 US lead in the second inning. In the words of Emily Litella, never mind.