Japanese fans don’t get to see shohei ohtani Many times in person. He got a great performance on Friday in a sold out Tokyo Dome.
Ohtani hit a grand slam in the second inning as Japan defeated Taiwan 13–0 in Pool C of the World Baseball Classic. This was Japan’s first four games in pool play.
The game was called after seven innings under the mercy rule, which is being used in the WBC. The game is called after five innings if a team leads by 15 runs or more, or after seven innings if the lead is by 10 or more runs.
After threatening in the first, Ohtani doubled on the first pitch of the game but was unable to score, leading Japan to 10 runs in the second inning.
Japan batted first as the designated visiting team and put three runners on base. Kenya Wakatsuki fouled out the catcher, bringing in Ohtani for a dramatic slam to right field off starter Hao-Chun Cheng.
“I knew it was going to leave the park right after I hit it,” Ohtani said of his grand slam. “It’s important to score first.”
Japan added six more runs in the innings that lasted 28 minutes. Japan batted around, and Ohtani got his third hit of the game, a single, and fifth RBI of the inning.
And only two innings were played.
Ohtani, speaking in Japanese, told the crowd after the game, “It was a good game and we started well, so I think it was all because of your support.” “I think the fight will continue, but if the fans and the team can come together and be happy, it will encourage us. So please support us.”
Japan scored three more in the third, this time off third pitcher Tzu-Chen Sha, increasing the lead to 13–0.
In the shadow on the left was Japan’s starting pitcher yoshinobu yamamotoWith last season’s World Series MVP los angeles dodgers.
After a long rest between innings, Yamamoto ran into trouble in the third, walking twice and loading the bases on an error. He was replaced by Shoma Fujihira who knocked out En-ko Lin to end the threat.
Yamamoto struck out three, walked two, allowed no hits and earned the winner. Cheng suffered a loss.
“It was our first game in the tournament and it’s always difficult to score the first run,” Yamamoto said. “But Shohei hit a big home run to give us the momentum. So I tip my hat to him.”
Ohtani led off the fourth and made a leaping catch by first baseman Nien-Ting Wu. Ohtani needed a triple for a cycle, and a leaping catch would have prevented it.
Japan is the current WBC champion and is a favorite to reach the quarter-finals from Pool C. Japan is also a favorite to reach the final in Miami on March 17, perhaps against the United States.
Earlier on Friday, Australia defeated Czechia 5-1 by a margin of three runs. chicago white sox infielder curtis mead To remain unbeaten in Pool C.
Mead’s homer in the third put Australia ahead 3–1, as the Czechs failed to convert a double play in the bottom of the inning, finally giving Mead a chance to bat. Australia added two runs in the ninth, including a solo home run by Alex Hall.
The Czechs took a 1–0 lead in the bottom of the second on Vojtek Menšík’s sacrifice fly.
Josh Hendrickson was the winning pitcher, and Tomas Ondra took the loss.
Australia improved to 2-0 in Pool C and the Czechs dropped to 0-2. Australia reached the quarter-finals in the last WBC three years ago but lost 4-3 to Cuba.
The Australians have had several players on MLB teams, including Mead. There’s also Travis Bazana, the first pick in the 2024 MLB amateur draft cleveland patron.
Taiwan will face Czechia and Japan will face South Korea in Pool C on Saturday.
