A Major League Baseball All-Star team has arrived in Japan to take on a team of All-Stars from Japan's professional leagues.
The first of eight games is set for Friday at Tokyo Dome. The eight-game series runs until November 14 and includes games in Tokyo, Fukuoka, Osaka, Sapporo and Nagoya. This is the second time in three years for the Major Leaguers to play exhibition matches in Japan.
San Diego Padres manager Bruce Bochy said veteran Houston pitcher Roger Clemens will start for the major leaguers in the opening game. He'll face Yomiuri Giants ace Koji Uehara, considered one of the best pitchers in Japanese baseball.
Japanese pitchers Akinori Otsuka of the San Diego Padres and Kazuhisa Ishii of the Los Angeles Dodgers made the trip, and said they are looking forward to facing their former teammates. Also on the Major League All-Star team are World Series stars Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox.