Japan-designated pitcher Shohei Ohtani (16) and Japanese catcher Yuhei Nakamura (27) and the Japanese team celebrate beating the United States in the World Classic Baseball Tournament at LoanDepot Park. Required credit: Rhona Wise-USA Sports TODAY
Shohei Ohtani delivered a fairy tale 3-2 win for Japan against the United States on Tuesday as the Asian powerhouses won the third World Baseball Classic.
Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto’s home runs gave Japan the lead as Los Angeles Angels superstar Ohtani closed off a mound of victory in the ninth inning.
In a perfectly scripted final at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Ohtani defeated Angels teammate and US captain Mike Trout to claim their third WBC win for Japan after winning in 2006 and 2009.
Ohtani Two-way Threat, 2021 The brightest player in the US league who has been compared to Babe Ruth since coming to Major League Baseball, said the win was the highlight of his career.
“It’s definitely number one,” Ohtani told FOX television through an interpreter. “It has to be up there. That is the end of the story.
“More than anything, I appreciate this tournament, this whole situation, this whole atmosphere,” added Ohtani, who was named the tournament’s MVP.
SHOHEI OHTANI Defeats MIKE TROUT TO WIN #WORLDBASEBALLCLASSIC! pic.twitter.com/F7vUtIiRR1
– MLB (@MLB) March 22, 2023
Ohtani provoked Japan with a fiery speech before the game in which he urged his teammates to “don’t admire” an American team considered to be the strongest American baseball team ever assembled. .
“Obviously, the US lineup, one through nine, they’re all familiar names, superstars,” Ohtani later said.
“All Japanese people know them. So I don’t want us to be passive. Show respect – but be positive, confident.
“That’s why I gave that speech.”
The all-star USA team, the defending champion after winning its last tournament in 2017, was frustrated by its inability to overtake Japan’s top pitchers.
Philadelphia Phillies runner Trea Turner gave the hosts a 1-0 lead early in the second half with a solo shot into the left half of the field.
stuck athlete
March 21, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Team Japan celebrates after winning their match against the United States at LoanDepot Park. Required credit: Sam Navarro-USA Sports TODAY
But Japan hit back immediately with Murakami — the hero of Japan’s first-leg win over Mexico in Monday’s semi-final — launching a run towards home in the center right area. in last place of the second U.S. warm-up Merrill Kelly.
Kelly’s problems were just beginning, with Arizona’s right-hand man giving up the single to Okamoto and Sosuke Genda before walking off Yuhei Nakamura to load the bases.
That prompted USA captain Mark DeRosa to pull Kelly, with Aaron Loup brought in to get out of the jam.
Loup managed to get out of the situation relatively normal, with Japan scoring just one more goal to take a 2-1 lead after Lars Nootbaar’s shot to score for Okamoto.
Japan extended the lead at the end of the fourth half when Okamoto kicked the ball into the left half of American player Kyle Freeland to make it 3-1.
The Americans threatened to return to contention in the fifth inning but trapped Mookie Betts and Nolan Arenado in the base.
It was a similar story at the beginning of season seven when Jeff McNeil took the lead as Betts hit singles to trail the American runners in first and second with no points.
Again, however, the United States couldn’t make money, as Trout lined up in front of right-hander Kensuke Kondoh before a doubles fight ended the round.
Japan manager Hideki Kuriyama turned to Yu Darvish to lock it up in season eight.
But after the elimination of Arenado, the San Diego Padres pitcher was run home by a monster from Kyle Schwarber, who threw a balloon into the upper floors to make it a one-way game.
Devin Williams failed to score in the eighth inning, setting up a dream final inning, with Ohtani’s pitch to close the game.
Ohtani started to worry by walking McNeil, but Betts started to play double to keep Japan down to one goal.
That led Ohtani to eliminate Trout to claim the victory, and the US captain swung his sword to end the game.
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