Japan secured their place in the World Baseball Classic final against the United States after triumphing over Mexico in the semi-finals with a 6-5 win. Munetaka Murakami’s two-run double in the ninth inning sealed the victory for Japan in a tight encounter in Miami. Japan will face the United States for the championship on Tuesday. Japan has won the first two WBCs in 2006 and 2009 and reached the semis in the past two editions. Yoshida’s three-run homer in the seventh inning drew Japan level with Mexico after the Brewers’ Luis Urias had earlier hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning. An RBI double from the Red Sox’s Alex Verdugo and a run-scoring single from the Rays’ Isaac Paredes put Mexico ahead 5-3 in the eighth inning. Japan halved the deficit in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Hotaka Yamakawa. Ohtani, who hit the first pitch in the ninth inning to set up the winning run, expressed his joy at the win and revealed his willingness to pitch in the final.
Japan secured their place in the World Baseball Classic final against the United States after triumphing over Mexico in the semi-finals with a 6-5 win. Munetaka Murakami’s two-run double in the ninth inning sealed the victory for Japan in a tight encounter in Miami. The Japanese team did not lead at any point until the game-ending run scored, with Mexico ahead 5-4 entering the bottom of the ninth. Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels hit the first pitch from the St. Louis Cardinals’ Giovanny Gallegos for a double, before Masataka Yoshida of the Boston Red Sox followed with a walk, and Ukyo Shuto took over as a pinch runner. Murakami, the MVP of Japan’s Central League for the past two years, then hit a 1-1 pitch off the wall in right-center field, with Ohtani and Shuto scoring the winning runs, leading to wild celebrations.
Japan, who have won the first two WBCs in 2006 and 2009 and reached the semis in the past two editions, will face the United States for the championship on Tuesday. Yoshida’s three-run homer in the seventh inning drew Japan level with Mexico after the Brewers’ Luis Urias had earlier hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning. An RBI double from the Red Sox’s Alex Verdugo and a run-scoring single from the Rays’ Isaac Paredes put Mexico ahead 5-3 in the eighth inning. Japan halved the deficit in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Hotaka Yamakawa.
Ohtani, who hit the first pitch in the ninth inning to set up the winning run, expressed his joy at the win and revealed his willingness to pitch in the final. Japan has set their sights on winning their third title in the WBCs. Taisei Ota was the winning pitcher after throwing a scoreless top of the ninth inning. The victory ensures Japan remains on course for another title in the World Baseball Classic.
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