MIAMI -- Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki exited Japan's World Baseball Classic quarterfinal loss to Venezuela on Saturday because of what the team called right knee "discomfort" after attempting to steal second base in the first inning.
Suzuki, who was thrown out to end the inning, limped off the field with a trainer and had difficulty walking down the dugout steps. Team Japan said during the game that Suzuki was still being evaluated.
Shota Morishita replaced Suzuki in center field for the start of the second inning and hit a three-run homer in the third to put Japan up 5-2. However, Japan gave up five combined runs in the fifth and sixth innings as Venezuela eliminated the reigning champions from the tournament with an 8-5 victory.
Suzuki batted third for Japan on Saturday and went 3-for-9 with two home runs and six walks in the tournament while starting in center field in four of Japan's five games.
The 31-year-old Suzuki, who played just one game in center field for the Cubs last season, batted .245 with 32 home runs and an .804 OPS last season.
