Shohei Ohtani (16) of Japan is congratulated by teammates after his grand slam in the second inning of a World Baseball Classic Pool C game against Taiwan at Tokyo Dome on March 6, 2026. (Kyodo)


TOKYO (Kyodo) — Shohei Ohtani opened the floodgates with a second-inning grand slam as Japan began its World Baseball Classic title defense by demolishing Taiwan 13-0 on Friday.


The WBC’s reigning MVP brought the crowd of 42,314 at Tokyo Dome to its feet as he put Japan on the board with a bomb deep to right field off a one-out curveball from Cheng Hao-chun (0-1) in the top of the second.


Samurai Japan piled on 10 runs for the inning, with Ohtani adding another RBI on a line-drive single to right-field after skipper Hirokazu Ibata’s men batted through the lineup.


The Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar, who is playing strictly as a batter at the tournament, led off the Pool C clash with a double and finished 3-for-4 with five RBIs.


His performance marked a spectacular return to form after he went hitless through two warm-up exhibition games against Nippon Professional Baseball clubs.


“It really all came down to that (second) inning,” Ohtani said. “Everyone stayed focused, even after we got on the board. We were hitting the power ball well, and I think we played a great game.”


Seibu Lions shortstop Sosuke Genda was a standout in a Japan lineup loaded with Major League Baseball talent, driving in four runs in a 3-for-3 outing.


Japan starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-0) tossed 2-2/3 hitless frames in which he struck out a pair and walked three. He exited after walking the bases loaded with two out in the third.


“It’s always good when you have a lot of run support,” World Series MVP Yamamoto said. “My pitch count went up in the second and third innings, but I’m glad that I was able to manage the game and put up 0s.”


While the ace experienced minor struggles, Japan’s pitching was rock-solid overall, with Shoma Fujihira, Hiroya Miyagi, Koki Kitayama and Ryuhei Sotani contributing to the shutout and limiting Taiwan to one hit for the game, which wrapped in seven innings under the WBC’s mercy rule.


Taiwan’s loss effectively sank its quarterfinal campaign, dropping it to 0-2 following Thursday’s 3-0 defeat to Australia.


Japan, bidding for a record-extending fourth WBC crown, faces South Korea in its second pool clash Saturday at Tokyo Dome.