The US in their first game at Tokyo 2020 thrashed Olympic newcomers Israel 8-1. Joe Ryan, 25, a prospect traded a week ago to the Minnesota Twins from the Tampa Bay Rays, allowed a solo home run and struck out five over the first six innings.
Eddy Alvarez, 31, a 2014 silver medallist in the 5,000 meters speed skating relay and a Florida Marlins minor leaguer, drove in two runs on two doubles and scored two runs himself.
Tyler Austin, 29, playing at the ballpark he normally calls home as the home-run leader for the Japan league's Yokohama BayStars, brought in three between a two-run blast and a double and also scored again later.
Earlier, well-known former MLB players Melky Cabrera and Jose Bautista along with current Japanese league pitcher Angel Sanchez gave the Dominican Republic a 1-0 victory over Mexico.
One-time New York Yankees outfielder Cabrera, 36, pushed a liner to the left-field wall in the fifth inning to bring home the lone run.
"It wasn't only me. It was all of us," Cabrera said. "All 24 of us are heroes."
In the sixth inning, Jose Bautista, 40, formerly of the Toronto Blue Jays and playing left field, prevented Mexico from scoring by throwing out a runner at home.
Sanchez, 31, who plays for Japan's Yomiuri Giants, and reliever Ramon Rosso held Mexico to two hits each over six innings, and a trio of other pitchers did not allow a hit for the rest of the game.
On the other side, Mexico and former MLB hitter Adrian Gonzalez had a single and a walk in four plate appearances.
"Unfortunately, we hit a lot of balls at them," Gonzalez said. "But the way this whole format is we control our destiny."
If Japan (1-0) beat Mexico on Saturday, the hosts can rest until Monday's quarter-finals, but the Mexicans could steal that privilege with a two-run win over Japan.
The bottom team amongst Japan, Mexico and Dominican Republic will on Sunday face Israel, who would have one last shot before elimination if they lost that game.