Ohtani’s blast lifts Japan to win
Slugger drives in 4 to help club win Group B; team to face Italy squad
TOKYO — Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer that landed just below his image on a video advertising board, sending Japan to a 7-1 victory over Australia in the World Baseball Classic on Sunday night.
Ohtani also walked twice and finished with four RBIS. His firstinning drive traveled an estimated 448 feet.
Japan won Group B with a 4-0 record and will play a quarterfinal Thursday against Italy, which advanced along with Cuba from Group A on tiebreakers. Matt Harvey got the win as Italy defeated the Netherlands 7-1, causing all five teams to finish 2-2.
Ohtani turned on a hanging curveball from Will Sherriff, who didn’t even watch the flight of the ball into the Tokyo Dome’s rightfield seats, bending and putting hands on his knees.
It was the first home run of the tournament for Ohtani, who is 6 for 12 with eight RBIS and seven walks.
Winner Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out eight in four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and no walks. He threw 42 of 60 pitches for strikes, averaging 95.2 mph with his fastball and topping out at 96.9 mph.
The 24-year-old right-hander was the Pacific League’s MVP for the Orix Buffaloes in 2021 and 2022, and pitched a no-hitter last June 22 against the Saitama Seibu Lions.
Israel 3, Nicaragua 1: Garrett Stubbs hit a two-run double in a three-run eighth inning, helping Israel rally for the win in its WBC opener. Stubbs had two of Israel’s seven hits. His bases-loaded double off New York Yankees reliever Jonathan Loáisiga drove in Spencer Horwitz and Noah Mendlinger with two out in the eighth. Horwitz tied it earlier in the inning with an RBI single.
Italy 7, Netherlands 1: Harvey pitched four innings of one-run ball for Italy, and Milwaukee Brewers prospect Sal Frelick had three hits and two RBIS.
South Korea 7, Czech Republic 3: Ha-seong Kim of the San Diego Padres hit two solo homers for South Korea. Se Woong Park struck out eight in 4 2/3 innings for South Korea, which improved to 1-2 in Group B and will play winless China in its final group game. The Czechs are also 1-2.
Cuba 7, Taiwan 1: Yoán Moncada and Erisbel Arruebarrena homered, leading Cuba to the win.