Morneau knocks in pair to cap strong Japan Series

With a 1-for-3, two-RBI showing in the Major League Baseball All-Stars' 6-4 loss to Samurai Japan on Thursday, Justin Morneau headed back to the States with eight RBIs over the seven-game showcase.

Thursday's exhibition finale continued a trend of Morneau powering the MLB squad's lineup. Though he hit just .211 for the series, he drove in six of the club's 13 runs during the five official Japan Series games and led the MLB squad with eight total RBIs on the trip.

The slugger homered and hit a double in Game 4, his biggest game in Japan.

Morneau led the MLB team with two long balls in the Japan Series and finished second behind Rays third baseman Evan Longoria in homers during the trip, as Longoria hit a grand slam in the exhibition opener, a homer in Game 4 and a solo shot in Thursday's finale.

Morneau gave the MLB squad a 1-0 lead in the first inning at Okinawa Cellular Stadium on Thursday. Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar reached on a throwing error and Astros second baseman Jose Altuve raced to first on an infield single.

Up came Morneau, who knocked a sacrifice fly to center field deep enough to score the speedy Escobar.

Morneau drove in another run in the eighth. Altuve got to second base on a high chopper toward the Japanese shortstop, and Morneau followed suit with a high-bouncing ball that hit second base and flew over the second baseman's head to score Altuve.