Team Japan fans euphoric as squad wins their third World Baseball Classic title, victory over Team USA: "A win for Japan, and a win for baseball"
Team Japan became the first three-time World Baseball Classic champion Tuesday night, defeating Team USA 3-2 to claim the 2023 tournament title at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Fla.
It was the first World Baseball Classic championship for Japan since the team won the first two tournaments in 2006 and 2009. It was another come-from-behind victory for Japan, though the team didn't have to wait as long as they did against Mexico in the semifinals on Monday night.
Undefeated Team Japan secures its 3rd #WorldBaseballClassic title! https://t.co/ehM62luyw9
Trea Turner put the USA up 1-0 in the top of the second inning with his fifth home run of the tournament, a solo shot off Japan starter Shota Imanaga that traveled 406 feet to left field.
However, the lead didn't last as Monday's hero, Munetaka Murakami, took USA starter Merrill Kelly's first offering of the bottom of the second 432 feet to right center to level the score 1-1. An RBI groundout by Lars Nootbaar scored Kazuma Okamoto later in the frame as Japan took a 2-1 lead into the third inning.
@WBCBaseball https://t.co/ajMsbm5mf4
@WBCBaseball A win for Japan, and a win for baseball. What a tournament!
@WBCBaseball unfortunate end! Good job Japan! What an amazing game that was! We’re gonna win next time :)!
Okamoto extended Japan's lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the fourth with a 407-foot solo homer to left center off USA reliever Kyle Freeland. The homer changed the complexion of the game, as Japan began to assert its dominance over the defending 2017 World Baseball Classic champions.
USA reliever Jason Adam got Nootbaar to fly out with the bases loaded and two away in the bottom of the sixth to give the host country a spark.
@WBCBaseball @MLB This year’s WBC won the hearts of the fans. Hope it won the hearts of the player’s who didn’t participate because every single star should be participating. What a tournament!
@WBCBaseball this is for you ohtani 👑
@WBCBaseball The American team was so strong! As a result, Japan won, but I saw very good things! You may never see a match like this again in your life. Best baseball! 🇯🇵 🇺🇸
The USA put two runners on with no out in the top of the seventh, but Japan reliever Taisei Ota promptly doused the spark by coaxing a fly out by Mike Trout and a double-play ball from Paul Goldschmidt. The USA got their share of opportunities in the game, but could not get the big hit when it counted, going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
@WBCBaseball Top of the Order let team USA down. Trout, Betts, and Goldy had their worst games possible tonight. Japan deserved it. Great game!
@WBCBaseball trout and dookie betts choke again in the big stage😭😭
@WBCBaseball @MLB I just smashed my son and TV in front of 30 guests at my sons birthday party because of the USA. My wife just took our crying kids and said they’re all spending the week at her mom’s house. This team has ruined my marriage. I can’t handle this anymore. I’m no longer a fan.
Kyle Schwarber kept the game on a knife edge by tattooing a 436-foot homer to left off of reliever Yu Darvish in the eighth, making the score 3-2. But it would get no closer as Shohei Ohtani came on to close out the game, tournament, and championship in the ninth.
The title-clinching out came as Ohtani struck out Mike Trout in a highly-anticipated showdown of the Los Angeles Angels teammates.
@WBCBaseball Trout to Ohtani in the Angels locker room https://t.co/HJugR9axAm
Japan wins first World Baseball Classic since 2009
It's been a long wait for Japan, but they are now 3-0 in World Baseball Classic championship games, having bested Cuba in 2006 and South Korea in 2009 in their only other title matchup appearances. Japan is also the first team to go undefeated in winning the World Baseball Classic since the Dominican Republic pulled off the feat in 2013.