Shohei Ohtani belted a two-run double and tossed 4 shutout innings to steer Japan to an 8-1 victory over China on Thursday within the opening sport of Pool B motion on the World Baseball Classic in Tokyo.
The Los Angeles Angels star deposited a pitch from Weiyi Wang off the wall in left-center subject to plate each Kensuke Kondoh and St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar and provides Japan a 3-0 lead within the fourth inning. Ohtani additionally singled throughout his group’s four-run eighth inning to achieve base for the fourth time.
Ohtani allowed one hit and struck out 5 batters for Japan, which is bidding for its third championship within the occasion. It gained the championship in 2006 and 2009 and completed in third place in 2013 and 2017.
China’s Jin Yang ripped a line drive to left-center subject off Ohtani for a single with one out within the fourth inning. Ohtani responded by placing out the subsequent two batters to finish the inning.
Shosei Togo relieved Ohtani to start out the fifth inning and struck out the facet. He fanned 4 extra batters throughout his three innings of labor, however Pei Liang put China crushed a 2-2 pitch over the wall in left subject for a solo homer within the sixth.
Shugo Maki gave Japan a 4-1 lead after main off the seventh inning with a homer over the wall in right-center subject. Tetsuto Yamada had an RBI single, Sosuke Genda adopted with a bases-loaded stroll and Takuya Kai ripped a two-run double to cap a four-run eighth inning.
Nootbaar singled to steer off the sport earlier than coming round to attain when Xiang Wang issued four-pitch walks to every of the subsequent three batters. Wang settled down and induced an infield popup and an inning-ending double play to restrict the harm.
–Field Level Media