Masataka Yoshida (Image via Getty Images)
Masataka Yoshida delivered the defining moment on Sunday as Japan rallied to win against Australia 4-3 in a World Baseball Classic Pool C game at Tokyo Dome. Team Japan’s designated hitter, Yoshida, hit two home runs in the 7th inning, erasing a 1-run lead and leading the defending champions ahead for good.
The game attracted further attention as Emperor Naruhito attended the game, marking a rare public appearance by a reigning monarch of Japan at a baseball event. Japan’s March 08 win ensured that the team remained undefeated in the tournament and claimed the top spot in Pool C for Samurai Japan, as they continued their march for another World Baseball Classic title.
Masataka Yoshida’s seventh-inning homer leads Japan’s comeback
In the early innings, Australia held Japan scoreless and took a 1-0 lead in the sixth.
Moreover, Aaron Whitefield doubled, stole third, and then scored on a throwing error by Japanese catcher Kenji Wakatsuki. While Japan had threatened earlier in the fourth inning after loading the bases with two outs and Shohei Ohtani at bat, the opportunity for Australia was lost when catcher Robbie Perkins caught Shugo Maki at second.
The breakthrough came in the seventh inning when Yoshida hit a two-run homer out to right field off of Jon Kennedy, Australia’s fifth pitcher of the night.
Meanwhile, Jpaoan added two more runs behind the plate as Ukyo Shuto ran a double by Teruaki Sato, and Sosuke Genda crossed the plate when Ky Hampton issued a bases-loaded walk. Australia almost rallied for the ninth when Alex Hall and Rixon Wingrove hit back-to-back home runs to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Japan’s bullpen crashed to the end, with Taisei Ota recording the save while Chihiro Sumida recording the victory.
Japan beats Pool C as Chinese Taipei beats South Korea in extras
Today’s win guaranteed Japan the top spot in Pool C and made them undefeated in the tournament.
Japan has already secured its place in the quarterfinal round and will play its last game in the group scheduled on Tuesday (March 10), against Czechia. Australia still has a way to go for the knockout stage and can clinch the second quarter-final berth from Pool C with a win over South Korea on Monday (March 09).Earlier Sunday, Chinese Taipei defeated South Korea, 5 to 4 in 10 innings. Chieh-Hsien Chen ran the winning score on a sacrifice bunt by Kun-Yu Chiang. Chinese Taipei outfielder Stuart Fairchild, who earlier in the game hit a two-run homer, said that the matchup was memorable. “That was one of the most fun games that I’ve played in my life,” Fairchild said. Chinese Taipei went 2-2 after pool play; South Korea ended up 1-2 before its last game against Australia.
