The World Baseball Classic continued Friday morning as Shohei Ohtani and Japan handled Korea Republic.
Korea took a 3-0 lead in the third set, but it was all Japan after as the latter scored 13 points. Heading into Friday, the pair of Group B teams opened the WBC in opposite fashion, as Korea lost to Australia, 8-7, while Japan beat China, 8-1.
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FINAL: Japan 13, Republic of Korea 4
Were off!
Yu Darvish pitched a one-two-three first inning for Japan in front of an amplified crowd.
Korea strikes first
Baekho Kang opened the start of the third for Korea Republic with a brace to the center left.
The next batter, Euiji Yang, unloaded on a two-run homer to left field, giving Korea a 2-0 lead.
Euiji Yang smashes a home run deep into left field to give Korea a 2-0 lead over Japan
Korea took a 2-0 lead over Japan after Euji Yang drove Yu Darvis into left field for a home run.
Make it three
With two out in the top of the third, Jung Hoo Lee hit a hit to right field, scoring Korea’s third run of the inning.
Japan strikes back
Japan got the first two batters from the bottom of third on base paths before stepping onto the board. Third inning batter Lars Nootbaar hit an RBI single to right center field, putting the runners in the corners with no one on.
The next batter, Kensuke Kondoh, hit a double low on the center field wall, resulting in another run and putting the runners up to second and third. This also eliminated starting pitcher Kwang Hyun Kim from the game.
Change of track
Tae-in Won entered the game for Korea.
After Ohtani was intentionally walked and Munetaka Murakami appeared, Masataka Yoshida gave Japan the lead with a two-run single to center field.
Japan take a 4-3 lead over Korea after hits from Lars Nootbaar, Kensuke Kondoh and Masataka Yoshida
Japan took a 4-3 lead over Korea after hits from Lars Nootbaar, Kensuke Kondoh and Masataka Yoshida.
Change of pitcher in Japan
Darvish was relieved by Shota Imanaga, who pitched a fourth inning one-two-three.
Which game !
As a three-man collision looms in the grass of the outfield, Nootbaar pulled off an incredible headfirst dive.
Japan’s Lars Nootbaar lies down in left field to make a ridiculous play
Japan’s Lars Nootbaar extended into left field for a ridiculous catch.
I just got out of here
Kondoh got his hands on Won’s curveball, hitting it just over the right field wall for a solo home run. This gave Japan a 5-3 lead.
Japan’s Kensuke Kondoh scores a home run to give Japan a 5-3 lead over Korea
Japan took a 5-3 lead over Korea after Kensuke Kondoh hit a homerun.
Productive outings
Immediately after the solo home run and a pitching change, Ohtani doubled down the right field line past Korea’s Been Gwak, as seen below. Then a groundout to first base and a sacrificial fly to the right field wall scored Ohtani for Japan’s sixth inning.
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani scores twice against Korea
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani scored twice on the right field line against Korea.
I got one back
Korea cut Japan’s lead in the top of the sixth when Kunwoo Park hit an opposite field, a solo home run to the right.
Kunwoo Park home runs bring Korea to a 6-4 deficit against Japan
Kunwoo Park smashed a home run to take Korea to a 6-4 deficit against Japan at the World Baseball Classic.
Open it by blowing
Takumu Nakano rolled out a triple to start what became an eventful low of sixth for Japan.
A walk and a throw-by then loaded the bases for Japan, which was followed by Kondoh walking into a run. The next batter, Ohtani, singled in a run, moving everyone to a sack.
Shohei Ohtani strings together RBI single to extend Japan’s lead over Korea
Shohei Ohtani extended Japan’s lead over Korea after scoring an RBI single.
Murakami then hit a sacrificial fly to left center field, which was followed by RBI singles from Yoshida and Kazuma Okamoto.
Japan added two more runs late in the seventh on wild pitch and later a walk to take a 13-4 lead. This would be the final score.
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