November 15, 200421 yr Major league All-Stars win final game of Japan tour By ROB SMAAL, Associated Press Writer November 14, 2004 TOKYO (AP) -- Vernon Wells went 3-for-4 with a homer, and David Ortiz also homered for the touring major leaguers in a 5-0 victory over the Japanese All-Stars. The major league stars snapped a three-game losing streak, after winning the first four straight, and won the eight-game series 5-3. ``To play with these guys against the best in Japan has been a blast,'' said Wells of the Toronto Blue Jays, the series' most valuable player. ``Unfortunately, we made it a close series but we managed to win. We made it entertaining and that's what we're here for.'' In addition to his homer, Wells had a single, double, two RBIs and two runs scored Sunday. He hit .407 with two home runs and seven RBIs in the seven games he played in the series. Over the series, the major leaguers outscored their hosts 35-19. Wells doubled to lead off the fourth inning against Japan starter Kei Igawa, who worked five innings and took the loss. Boston slugger Ortiz followed with a two-run shot just over the wall in left-center to put the major leaguers ahead 2-0. An inning later, Hank Blalock of Texas singled home Montreal's Brad Wilkerson before Wells made it 5-0 with a two-run shot. San Diego starter Jake Peavy held the Japanese team to just two hits through six innings and earned his second win of the series. Anaheim closer Francisco Rodriguez worked a scoreless ninth. ``There was a different feeling in the clubhouse today,'' Peavy said. ``We had the `A' lineup out there. There was a lot on the line after losing the last three games.'' The major leaguers are looking forward to a little time off after playing eight games in five cities in 10 days. ``It's been an awesome trip, everyone has been so friendly and the cities are so clean,'' Atlanta pitcher Chris Reitsma said. ``But it's been a long season and I haven't been back home since February.'' The major league team earned about $1 million on the trip -- $500,000 for winning the series plus $100,000 for each victory from sponsors -- which will be divided among the players and officials. The team members were also reportedly paid $120,000 each to make the trip to Japan by baseball and the players' association. The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays opened the 2004 regular season at the Tokyo Dome, and since 1908 there have been 34 tours of Japan by major league All-Star teams, Negro League teams, and individual teams.
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