Japan and Australia both came into Sunday’s World Baseball Classic matchup with 2-0 records. Japan has already advanced out of Pool C into the knockout round while Australia needed a win over the Japanese or Korea on Monday to advance.
That opportunity will have to wait until Monday after falling to Japan, 4-3.
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Masataka Yoshida’s 2-run home run in the seventh inning gave Japan the lead after going scoreless for the previous six frames. Japan then added two more runs in the eighth on a pinch-hit RBI double from Teruaki Sato and Seiya Suzuki drawing a bases-loaded walk (after Shohei Ohtani was intentionally walked).
However, Australia didn’t go away quietly. Trailing 4-1 in the ninth, Alex Hall and Rixon Wingrove each hit solo home runs to trim Japan’s lead to one run. But Taisei Ota got Robbie Perkins to ground out to third base and finish off the win.
Chihiro Sumida earned the win for Japan with three scoreless innings of relief after starter Tomoyuki Sugano kept Australia off the board in his four innings. Jon Kennedy took the loss for Australia allowing Yoshida’s 2-run homer in the sixth.
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Australia starting pitcher Connor McDonald kept Japan off the board in his first three innings despite walking three batters and allowing one hit. That included getting Shohei Ohtani to ground out and fly out in his first two at-bats.
Japan threatened to score in the fourth inning after Warwick Saupold took over for McDonald. Kazuma Okamoto drew a leadoff walk, followed by Shugo Maki hitting a one-out single. After Sosuke Genda flied out, Kenya Wakatsuki drew a walk to load the bases for Ohtani.
However, Maki was picked off second base by Perkins at catcher to end the inning for Australia. That left Ohtani at the plate with a 2-2 count and no opportunity to drive a run in.
Australia broke through in the sixth with Aaron Whitefield hitting a leadoff single against Sumida. He then stole second base.
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With Hall at the plate, Whitefield then attempted to steal third base. Japanese catcher Kenya Wakatsuki’s throw was wide left from third baseman Kazuma Okamoto and Whitefield came in for a 1-0 lead.
Ohtani finished 0-for-3 with two walks after coming into Sunday’s matchup with 5 hits, 2 home runs and 6 RBI.
Japan will finish pool play on Tuesday versus Czechia. First pitch at the Tokyo Dome is scheduled for 6 a.m. ET.