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Polybius

(17,087 posts)
Wed Mar 22, 2023, 12:37 AM Mar 2023

World Baseball Classic score: Japan holds off USA as Shohei Ohtani closes out team's third WBC champ

Source: CBS Sports

Japan defeated Team USA 3-2 on Tuesday night to win the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Japan, who went undefeated throughout the tournament, has now won three WBC tournaments: 2006, 2009, and 2023. They remain the only nation to win multiple tournaments, though Team USA would have joined them with a victory.

The Americans pulled out to an early lead, as Phillies shortstop Trea Turner launched a solo home run in the second to put them up 1-0. Turner's home run happened to make some history on both, country and tournament-wide levels. We'll touch on that more below. For now, just enjoy the moving pictures:

Team USA's lead didn't stand for long. Japan third baseman Munetaka Murakami, who homered 56 times last season and who drove in the game-winning run against Mexico on Monday, hit his own solo home run in the third inning to even the score. Take a look at this monster mash:

Japan would later take a 2-1 lead on a Lars Nootbaar fielder's choice. They would extend it to 3-1 on another home run, this one by first baseman Kazuma Okamoto.

Read more: https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/world-baseball-classic-score-japan-holds-off-usa-as-shohei-ohtani-closes-out-teams-third-wbc-championship/live/




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World Baseball Classic score: Japan holds off USA as Shohei Ohtani closes out team's third WBC champ (Original Post) Polybius Mar 2023 OP
Isn't baseball supposed to be the US national sport? Bernardo de La Paz Mar 2023 #1
I hadn't seen any of the WBC, but I watched the last inning. ificandream Mar 2023 #2
Ohtani is phenomenal jcgoldie Mar 2023 #3

Bernardo de La Paz

(50,423 posts)
1. Isn't baseball supposed to be the US national sport?
Wed Mar 22, 2023, 06:56 AM
Mar 2023

Even though it was adapted from the English game of Rounders.

Basketball was invented by a Canadian.

Football was adapted from rugby and soccer.

ificandream

(10,256 posts)
2. I hadn't seen any of the WBC, but I watched the last inning.
Wed Mar 22, 2023, 08:18 AM
Mar 2023

When I saw Trout would come up third against Ohtani in the ninth, I had to watch. What a great finish. I was hoping that Betts (who I normally root against since he's a Dodger and I'm a Giants fan) would get a hit, but I kind of chuckled when he hit into the double play. Then I figured, "OK, Trout's gonna tie it up now." But he didn't. Nice pitching by Ohtani. I'd say he's ready to go for the season.

jcgoldie

(11,900 posts)
3. Ohtani is phenomenal
Wed Mar 22, 2023, 10:23 AM
Mar 2023

It was the first time he played an entire game then ran out to the bullpen warmed up and pitched in relief. (He normally starts when he pitches.) He proceeded to put down the top of the US order including striking out his teammate Trout with 100 mph fastballs and that last nasty slider that was unhittable. He’s young but hes one of the best hitters and best pitchers in the game simultaneously… no 2 way pitcher/batter on that level since Babe Ruth who only did it 2 years.

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