Tokyo – Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer that landed slightly below his picture on a video promoting board, sending Japan to a 7-1 victory over Australia within the World Baseball Classic on Sunday evening.
Ohtani additionally walked twice and completed with 4 RBIs. His first-inning drive traveled an estimated 448 toes.
Japan gained Group B with a 4-0 file and can play a quarterfinal Wednesday in opposition to Italy, which superior together with Cuba from Group A on tiebreakers. Matt Harvey received the win as Italy defeated the Netherlands 7-1, inflicting all 5 groups to complete 2-2.
South Korea beat the Czech Republic 7-3 within the day’s different Group B recreation, and Cuba defeated Taiwan 7-1 in Group A.
Ohtani turned on a dangling curveball from Will Sherriff, who did not even watch the flight of the ball into the Tokyo Dome’s right-field seats, bending and placing fingers on his knees. It was the primary house run of the event for Ohtani, who’s 6 for 12 with eight RBIs and 7 walks.
Winner Yoshinobu Yamamoto struck out eight in 4 scoreless innings, permitting one hit and no walks. He threw 42 of 60 pitches for strikes, averaging 95.2 mph along with his fastball and topping out at 96.9 mph. The 24-year-old right-hander was the Pacific League’s MVP for the Orix Buffaloes in 2021 and 2022. He pitched a no-hitter June 22 in opposition to the Saitama Seibu Lions.
Robbie Perkins was the one Australia batter to achieve in opposition to Yamamoto, on a one-out single within the third. Alex Hall homered within the ninth off Hiroto Takahashi, who completed a five-hitter.
Australia (2-1) is second in Group B, forward of the Czechs and South Korea (each 1-2) and eradicated China (0-3). Australia would advance with a win over the Czechs on Monday, when South Korea performs China.
Israel 3, Nicaragua 1
MIAMI (AP) – Garrett Stubbs hit a two-run double in a three-run eighth inning, serving to Israel rally for the win in its WBC opener.
Stubbs had two of Israel’s seven hits. His bases-loaded double off New York Yankees reliever Jonathan Loaisiga drove in Spencer Horwitz and Noah Mendlinger with two out within the eighth. Horwitz tied it earlier within the inning with an RBI single.
Winner Richard Bleier had two strikeouts in a single reduction inning.
Nicaragua took a 1-0 lead within the fifth when Steven Leyton’s double scored Sandy Bermudez. But it dropped to 0-2 in WBC pool play.
Italy 7, Netherlands 1
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (AP) – Harvey pitched 4 innings of one-run ball for Italy, and Milwaukee Brewers prospect Sal Frelick had three hits and two RBIs.
Italian gamers needed to wait a couple of minutes after the ultimate out to seek out out they superior with Cuba whereas the Netherlands, Taiwan and Panama had been eradicated. The group was determined by runs allowed divided by outs, and Cuba (15/108, .139) completed first, adopted by Italy (17/108, .157), Netherlands (19/102, .186), Panama (21/105, .200) and Taiwan (31/105, .295).
Chadwick Tromp homered within the third for the Netherlands, however Italy went forward to stick with six runs within the fourth.
Nicky Lopez had two hits and two RBIs for the Italians, managed by Mike Piazza.
The Netherlands, needing three runs to advance, put two on with no outs within the ninth in opposition to Mitchell Stumpo. Juremi Profar struck out, Tromp popped out to the pitcher in foul territory close to the plate and Ray-Patrick Didder struck out.
Dutch left fielder Jurickson Profar made a sprawling backhand catch on Dominic Fletcher’s two-out fly within the eighth, saving two runs.
Padres’ infielder Xander Bogaerts went 4 for 15 (.267) with one RBI for the Netherlands within the event. Jurickson Profar was 3 for 13 (.231) with one RBI, Didi Gregorius was 3 for 12 with three RBIs and Jonathan Schoop 1 for 13 (.077) with no RBIs.
South Korea 7, Czech Republic 3
TOKYO (AP) – Ha-Seong Kim of the San Diego Padres hit two solo homers for South Korea.
Se Woong Park struck out eight in 4 2/3 innings for South Korea, which improved to 1-2 in Group B and can play winless China in its remaining group recreation. The Czechs are additionally 1-2.
St. Louis Cardinals infielder Tommy Edman hit a two-run single for South Korea. Kim’s homer within the sixth made it 6-0.
Matej Mensik put the Czech Republic on the board with a two-run double within the seventh. Kim hit his second homer of the sport within the backside half.
Loser Lukas Ercoli allowed six runs in 1 1/3 innings.
Cuba 7, Taiwan 1
TAICHUNG, Taiwan (AP) – Yoan Moncada and Erisbel Arruebarrena homered, main Cuba to the win.
Cuba broke out to a 4-0 lead within the first inning. Alfredo Despaigne drove in Moncada and Luis Robert with a double, and Arruebarrena added a two-run shot.
Moncada and Robert play for the Chicago White Sox.
Cuba starter Elian Leyva pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings, hanging out 4. Loser Shih-Peng Chen allowed 5 runs – 4 earned – and 5 hits in 1 1/3 innings.