SAPPORO, Japan - Matt Shoemaker combined with four relievers on a four-hitter to upstage Shohei Otani, and the Major League Baseball All-Stars beat Japan 3-1 on Tuesday in the finale of their five-game series.
Shoemaker, who finished second to Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu in AL Rookie of the Year voting, got the win by allowing two hits in five scoreless innings. Randy Choate, Tommy Hunter and Mark Melancon finished as the MLB as the All-Stars won the last two games after an 0-3 start.
"You always want to go out there and put up zeroes," Shoemaker said. "They have a lot of good hitters, scrappy guys and power guys, so you want to go out there and execute."
Otani took the loss, giving up two runs and six hits in four innings with seven strikeouts.
MLB went ahead 2-0 in the third when Lucas Duda doubled, advanced on Alcides Escobar's single and, with Jose Altuve batting, scored on Motohiro Shima's passed ball. Escobar came around on Altuve's groundout.
"I got hit when I tried to get strikes," Otani said. "That's something I regret. I should have been more careful with the leadoff hitters."
