In a thrilling World Baseball Classic semifinal, Japan edged out Mexico with a two-run walk-off double by Shohei Ohtani, securing a place in the final against defending champions the United States. Despite Mexico’s strong start and pitching performance, Japan fought back from a 3-0 deficit to clinch victory in the bottom of the ninth. Roki Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto led the way for Japan on the mound, while Mexico’s Randy Arozarena and Luis Urias impressed at the plate. Masataka Yoshida’s 13 RBI in this year’s tournament broke the previous record set by the Netherlands’ Wladimir Balentien, and Arozarena’s six doubles tied the most in a single WBC. Japan’s victory sets up an exciting final against the United States and offers a chance for Japan to add to their previous WBC titles in 2006 and 2009.
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani led his team to victory with a two-run walk-off double against Mexico in a thrilling World Baseball Classic semifinal. The victory advanced Japan to its third WBC final and set up a clash with defending champions the United States on Tuesday night. Mexico, which had won Pool C and made its first WBC semifinal appearance, was left heartbroken by the loss. Japan, winners of the first two WBCs in 2006 and 2009, had to fight back from a 3-0 deficit to clinch victory. They finally took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning after Masataka Yoshida hit a three-run homer. Mexico retook the lead in the top of the eighth on a double by Alex Verdugo and added another run, but Japan rallied in the ninth to clinch a dramatic win.
Ohtani’s heroics came after Munetaka Murakami’s game-winning double, which followed Masataka Yoshida’s walk to put runners on first and second. Ukyo Shuto, a speedy pinch runner, ran almost right behind Ohtani and across the plate after Murakami belted a 94-mph fastball from Mexico’s Giovanny Gallegos 400 feet deep and off the wall in center field.
The game was expected to feature Japan’s 21-year-old pitching phenom Roki Sasaki, but it was Mexico’s pitching, starting with Pablo Sandoval, which did not yield a run for the first six frames. Sandoval struck out six over 4⅓ innings and gave up four hits and one walk. Jose Urquidy kept it going until the seventh 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.
Luis Urias belted a three-run home run into the left-field seats in the fourth inning, but Arozarena stole a home run from Japan’s Kazuma Okamoto in the fifth inning and then made a great running catch to end the frame and take away another hit. The loss was a heartbreaker for Mexico, but they should be proud of their underdog role and the performance they put on throughout the tournament.
The final between Japan and the United States will take place on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Eastern, and fans can watch it on FS1 and Fox Deportes. The game will also be live-streamed on fubo TV and DirecTV Stream. It remains to be seen which team will lift the WBC trophy, but with Japan’s late rally and the US’ strong defense, it promises to be a thrilling match.
In the World Baseball Classic semifinal between Japan and Mexico, Japan left the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth innings against Urquidy. Despite Shohei Ohtani’s rare emotional outburst after hitting a two-run walk-off double to secure Japan’s win, Roki Sasaki gave up five hits, including Luis Urias’ homer, over four innings. Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched 3 ⅓ innings of relief, allowing two runs on three hits, two walks, and striking out four. Mexico’s Randy Arozarena has hit six doubles in this year’s tournament, tied for the most in a single WBC, while Masataka Yoshida’s 13 RBI breaks the record previously set by the Netherlands’ Wladimir Balentien (12) in the 2017 WBC.
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