Munetaka Murakami hits a solo home run in the Olympic baseball final ©Getty Images

Japan beat the United States 2-0 to win their maiden Olympic baseball title, while becoming the first host nation to ever clinch gold.

Today's final pitted together the sport's two superpowers and it was the Japanese who came out on top after they prevented the Americans from scoring.

Munetaka Murakami whacked a home run over the fence and into the seats to give Japan a third inning lead, with US pitcher Nick Martinez left to rue a rare slip-up from the mound.

The second run arrived in the bottom of the eighth after a hit from Masataka Yoshida sent designated hitter Tetsuto Yamada around from second to third base.

Yamada pondered trying to score before thinking better of it, but then got his chance anyway when a throw from Jack Lopez to the catcher went astray.

He dived for home and the run was confirmed after a video review.

Japan utilised five pitchers and they all performed well, particularly starter Masato Morishita who kept the US out for the first five innings.

It means the host nation, which put its Nippon Professional Baseball season on hiatus to allow the best players to be available for the Olympics, have achieved a special double on the diamond here.

Tetsuto Yamada dives in for the second Japanese run after an American throw went astray ©Getty Images
Tetsuto Yamada dives in for the second Japanese run after an American throw went astray ©Getty Images

The women's softball team also won Olympic gold after beating the US 2-0 in the final.

"The US has a really good line-up, but Morishita was bent on going after them without holding back," said Japan catcher Takuya Kai.

"That was what we talked about doing and he pitched a gem of a game.

"All the pitchers did a great job."

Japan shortstop Hayato Sakamoto added: "This is such a relief. 

"Nobody thought this was going to be easy, and as one would expect the difference in this game was Japan's strengths - pitching and defence."

Japanese organisers brought baseball and softball back for Tokyo 2020 after the sports were axed from the Olympic programme after Beijing 2008, and the double gold has justified that decision.

Neither baseball or softball will be contested at Paris 2024, however, meaning it will likely be a long wait until the next Olympic tournaments.

It seems likely that the sports will return in the US at Los Angeles 2028, with matches at Dodger Stadium already being touted.

Today's bronze medal was won by Dominican Republic who beat South Korea in an excellent game, 10-6.

This was the country's first ever Olympic medal in a team sport.