Ohtani strikes out Trout to give Japan the championship
Storybook ending for a great World Baseball Classic.
Midway through the sixth inning, cameras showed Shohei Ohtani sitting in Japan’s bullpen, ready to warm up just in case. The do-it-all dual threat had said yesterday after the victory over Mexico that he was ready if needed.
A Kyle Schwarber homer off Yu Darvish on the top of the eight put the USA within one run of tying it, in came Ohtani to close a game for the first time in his professional career. Shohei walked Jeff McNeil to start the ninth but forced Mookie Betts to bat into a double play, which meant the table was set for the great finale.
Ohtani versus Trout, Trout vs Ohtani. Title on the line.
Full count, the Japanese flamethrower comes with a pitch that baseball snobs now call ‘the sweeper’ and that’s all she wrote, Trout hits nothing but the wind. Game Over. Japan takes the trophy home with a 3–2 triumph. Shohei gets bragging rights for life, by the way.
The samurais came on top for the third time — first since 2009 — in the history of a tournament that keeps on growing in popularity around the globe. Basically half of Japan tuned in for the semis against Mexico yesterday, it’s a safe to say that the whole island was watching tonight.
The score was opened by none other than Trae Tuner via a solo home run in the top of the second. The Phillies’ shortstop brought the crowd to their feet by being patient and waiting on the fastball he needed to disappear yet another baseball; he totaled five homers for the tournament.
Hideki Kuriyama’s squad didn’t take long to answer in fashion. A Munetaka Murakami round tripper equalized on the bottom of that same frame. The dinger was just the beginning of the end for Merril Kelly, who then allowed Kazuma Okamoto and Sosuke Genda to single, before walking Yuhei Nakamura. He was relieved off his duties after 1.1 innings and replaced by Aaron Loup. With bases loaded and one out, Lars Nootbar grounded out but was able to put Japan in front.
On a night of low scores and a few long balls, Kazuma Okamoto joined the party with one of his own by banging a Kyle Freeland slidder into the center field bleachers on the bottom of the fourth. Two runs behind, the US had a great chance on the very next inning and wasted it. Betts reached first with no outs on a close call that had to be reversed, Hiroto Takahashi, Japan’s third pitcher of the contest, was able to get back on track by striking out Trout and Paul Goldschmidt. After a Nolan Arenado single, Schwarber inexplicably flied out to center field with a 3–0 count.
The usual suspects were back at it in the seventh. McNeil came in as a pinch hitter and immediately got four straight balls out of Taisei Ota’s arm, Betts then singled to put two on board with no outs. Unfortunately for most in the stands, Trout lined out to left and Goldschmidt grounded into a double play; both men combined for nine at bats and a mere single.
Quite difficult to believe that a team which fabricated 23 runs in the quarters and semis could only accomplish two in the final. Japan, on the other hand, made the most of its five hits.
Schwarber’s home run not only put the US closer to evening the score, it made the prospect of watching Ohtani battle it out against Trout for the title a real one. When McNeil walked to start the ninth, the ideal ending seemed too good to be true. But this is baseball.
When Betts batted into a double play he gifted baseball and casual fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Ohtani — who went one for three as a batter — showed no respect for Trout’s power and constantly threw 100+ MPH pitches right down the middle of the plate, finally hooking him with a slider (or a sweeper, however you want to call it) to end the bout.
One was mobbed at the mound by his teammates in celebration, the other made his way to a death-silent dugout. Both will join forces in a couple of days to put the finishing touches on the Angels’ spring training. Basically the same happened with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé three months ago at the World Cup, when teammates became enemies for yet another magical night of sport extravaganza.
The World Baseball Classic saw no shortage of thrills over two memorable weeks that put baseball on the forefront. Japan wins a well-deserved third championship in unbeaten fashion.
Winning pitcher: Shota Imanaga
Losing pitcher: Merrill Kelly
Save: Shohei Ohtani
