MLB All-Stars vs. Samurai Japan: Game 4 Score and Reaction for 2014 Japan Series

The MLB All-Stars didn't get much production from the bottom of their lineup on Sunday against Samurai Japan. Luckily for them, the top of the order provided all of the runs they would need.  

Jose Altuve, Yasiel Puig and Justin Morneau led the way with huge performances. Starter Chris Capuano (one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts in five innings pitched) provided a strong showing with four relievers to catapult the MLB All-Stars over Samurai Japan, 6-1.

Altuve (3-for-4 with a run), Puig (3-for4 with two runs) and Morneua (2-for-4 with a run and four RBI) provided more than enough offense the team would need to secure victory. After the team traded runs in the first two innings, the All-Stars broke things open in the third, as an Altuve single, Puig double and Morneua three-run blast gave the All-Stars a 4-1 lead.

Here's Morneau going yard, via the MLB on Twitter:

He's been pretty huge for the All-Stars, as the MLB account noted :

An Evan Longoria solo shot in the sixth, and an Eduardo Nunez fielder's choice in the eighth that scored Carlos Santana, would provide the All-Stars with a comfortable cushion.

Here's Longoria's blast:

It was a rough outing for starter Shintaro Fujinami, who was tagged for four runs in in four innings of work, giving up five hits while also striking out five. 

The win was a much-needed result for the All-Stars, who lost the first three games to Japan in the series and were no-hit by Takahiro Norimoto and three relievers in the last game between the teams. While the MLB All-Stars can't win this series, saving a bit of face before the series wrapped up was a welcome result. 

While these games are nothing more than exhibitions, it would have been a bit embarrassing for an All-Star team from the best baseball league in the world to travel to another country and get swept in five games.

Losing four of five wouldn't be much better, however, and these teams will meet for the final game in the series on Nov. 18. Finishing with a second straight win would certainly help to alleviate some of the sting from the team's slow start against Samuari Japan.