Japan secured a spot in the World Baseball Classic final after defeating Mexico 6-5 in a thrilling game. Shohei Ohtani’s double and Munetaka Murakami’s two-run walk-off double helped Japan clinch the victory. Japan, the first-ever WBC champion, advanced to its third WBC final and will face the defending champion, the United States. During the game, Japan left the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth innings against Urquidy. On the other hand, Mexico’s Arozarena hit his sixth double in this year’s tournament, tying for the most in a single WBC, while Japan’s Yoshida set a new record for the tournament with 13 RBI.
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani played a critical role in their 6-5 comeback win against Mexico in the World Baseball Classic semifinal. Ohtani, who is known for his stoic demeanor on the field, expressed his excitement by yelling and gesturing to his teammates after hitting a double in the bottom of the ninth. This moment sparked a wild celebration after Munetaka Murakami hit a two-run walk-off double. With the win, Japan, the first-ever WBC champion, advanced to its third WBC final and will face the defending champion, the United States, on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Eastern.
The final play was set up by Masataka Yoshida’s walk, which put runners on first and second. Japan brought in the speedy Ukyo Shuto as a pinch runner, and he was able to score from first after Murakami hit a 94-mph fastball from Mexico’s Giovanny Gallegos 400 feet deep and off the wall in center field.
Mexico, which had won Pool C and advanced to its first WBC semifinal, suffered a heartbreaking loss. Mexico pitching, led by Pablo Sandoval, kept Japan scoreless for the first six innings. However, Japan came back from a 3-0 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning on Yoshida’s three-run home run.
Mexico regained the lead in the top of the eighth inning with a double by Alex Verdugo, which scored Randy Arozarena, and added another run on an Isaac Paredes single. Japan cut the deficit to 5-4 in the eighth inning with a sacrifice fly by Hotaka Yamakawa.
Japan’s pitching phenom Roki Sasaki was expected to shine, but it was Mexico’s pitching that kept Japan from scoring until the seventh inning. Sandoval struck out six over 4⅓ innings and gave up four hits and one walk. Jose Urquidy continued the effort until the seventh inning, when he gave up a two-out single to Kensuke Kondoh. Jojo Romero replaced Urquidy and proceeded to walk Ohtani and give up the tying homer to Yoshida.
Sasaki pitched a steady diet of 100-plus mph fastballs, which kept Mexico’s bats in check until the fourth inning, when Luis Urias hit a three-run home run into the left-field seats. Arozarena also stole a home run from Japan’s Kazuma Okamoto in the fifth inning and made a great running catch to end the frame to take away another hit.
The game will be broadcasted on Tuesday on FS1 and Fox Deportes and live-streamed on fubo TV and DirecTV Stream. Fans around the world will be watching as Japan and the United States face off in what is sure to be a thrilling finale to the WBC.
During the World Baseball Classic semifinal between Japan and Mexico, Japan had several missed opportunities, leaving the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth innings against Urquidy. Meanwhile, Sasaki struck out three but gave up five hits, including Urias’ homer over four innings. Japan’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who won back-to-back MVPs in Japan, pitched 3 ⅓ innings of relief, allowing two runs on three hits, two walks, and striking out four.
Mexico’s Arozarena hit his sixth double in this year’s tournament, tying for the most in a single WBC. Additionally, his seven extra-base hits tie for the second-most. On the other hand, Japan’s Yoshida set a new record for the tournament with 13 RBI, surpassing the Netherlands’ Wladimir Balentien’s 12 in the 2017 WBC.
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