Japan opens with 13-1 victory in softball worlds

CARACAS, Venezuela — Japan opened the World Softball Championship with a 13-1 victory over Argentina on Wednesday when the game was stopped after four innings because of the run-ahead rule. The run-ahead rule is designed to end lopsided games before the full seven innings. Japan is the defending Olympic champion and is a title favorite along with the United States. The Americans have won the world title five straight times and open on Thursday against China. Japan scored seven runs in the first inning, six more in the second and was never challenged. The championship ends July 2. "Our goal is to win games by a safe margin," Japan manager Haruka Saitoh said. "However we are aware that the pressure will continue to mount in the next games and therefore we are not over-confident." The 16-team field includes: Argentina, Australia, Botswana, Canada, China, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Britain, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Taiwan, United States and Venezuela. – AP