Japan manager Hideki Kuriyama still gets a special tingle watching Shohei Ohtani. It's been that way since Kuriyama managed the two-way star with the Hokkaido Ham-Fighters.
“When we see Shohei playing, not only the players but also the Japanese baseball fans, all the nation is feeling something extra,” Kuriyama said through a translator after Ohtani led Japan over Italy 9-3 on Thursday night to put the Samurai Warriors in their fifth straight World Baseball Classis semifinal.
Ohtani pitched shutout ball into the fifth inning and sparked a four-run third with a bunt single.
“These kind of moments, this is how I feel the sense of Ohtani,” Kuriyama said. "This is Shohei. This is Shohei. When he plays a must-win game like tonight, we see who Shohei is.”
Boston’s Masataka Yoshida homered and drove in the go-ahead run with a grounder, giving him a tournament-leading 10 RBIs. Kazuma Okamoto hit a three-run homer for Japan, which has outscored opponents 47-11 in five games and is batting .313.
Japan travels to Miami for a semifinal on Monday against Puerto Rico or Mexico. Cuba plays the other semifinal against the United States or Venezuela.
Pitching before an adoring crowd of 41,723 at the Tokyo Dome, Ohtani threw his fastest pitch since he joined the Los Angeles Angels in 2018, striking out Vinnie Pasquantino on a 102 mph fastball in the second. That topped a 101.4 mph pitch that struck out Houston’s Kyle Tucker last Sept. 10.
Ohtani (2-0) allowed two runs and four hits in 4 2/3 innings with five strikeouts and a walk and went 1 for 4 with a walk at the plate. He is hitting .438 (7 for 16) with a home run, three doubles and eight RBIs along with a 2.08 ERA, 10 strikeouts and one walk on the mound. Ohtani would be available on four days’ rest to pitch in a possible final on Tuesday -- 4 1/2 days, counting the time difference.
Ohtani stretched his tournament scoreless streak to 8 2/3 innings before the fifth, when Dominic Fletcher hit a soft bases-loaded single into right with two outs on Ohtani’s 71st and final pitch — nine short of the limit. Ohtani had hit Ben DeLuzio with a pitch with one out, allowed a single to David Fletcher, retired Sal Frelick on a flyout and hit Nicky Lopez with a pitch.
“In the fourth and fifth innings I struggled a bit, but until then I had good rhythm and I pitched well, I think," Ohtani said.
Ohtani also mentioned his special relationship with Kuriyama, who encouraged him to continue as a two-way player.
“This is such a special moment for me,” Ohtani said, referring to Kuriyama in the Japanese style of Kuriyama-san. “When I played for Kuriyama-san for the Fighter, I learned a lot. Yes, he is someone who taught me how to play well.”
Hiromi Itoh relieved and retired Miles Mastrobuoni on a flyout as Yoshida slammed into the left field wall while making the catch.
Japan is the only nation to reach the semifinals of all five WBCs, winning the first two tournaments in 2006 and 2009. The Samurai Warriors were knocked out by Puerto Rico in 2013 and the U.S. in 2017.
Italy, managed by Mike Piazza, advanced past the first round for the first time since 2013. Dominic Fletcher, an Arizona prospect, drove in all three of Italy’s runs and had the team’s first home run of the tournament, a solo shot in the eighth off Yu Darvish.
"Against a very good team, you have to be exceptional," Piazza said. "And obviously tonight we weren’t, We didn’t throw the ball well tonight. We needed our pitchers to have a very good game.”
Italy pitchers walked eight.
“You’re not going to beat at team like Japan with eight walks,” Piazza said.
Japan went ahead in a four-run third.
Kensue Kondoh walked with one out against Tampa Bay minor leaguer Joe LaSorsa (0-1), and Ohtani bunted down the third base line for a single as LaSorsa threw wildly for an error that left runners at the corners. Yoshida’s groundout put Japan ahead, Munetaka Murakami walked and Okamoto homered.
Murakami, a two-time Central League MVP, hit an RBI double in the fifth and Kazuma Okamoto followed with a two-run double off Vinny Nittoli that opened a 7-2 lead.
Yoshida homered in the seventh against San Francisco prospect Joey Marciano and Sosuke Genda added an RBI single.
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39 Comments
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rainyday
How to say “I don’t know much about Japanese baseball” without saying “I don’t know much about Japanese baseball “.
Yubaru
I really would have loved to see how Japan would have faired against the groups that are playing in the US.
The baseball rankings mean nothing either, as at the time, the teams were totally different when the rankings came out, compared to now.
The next game is going to be a hell of a lot different I do believe!
Mark
Congratulations.
Rodney
I searched top 10 sports in Italy. Definitely baseball was not there. Japan should play countries that actually play baseball.
Mocheake
The deck has been seriously stacked in their favor so far: They haven't played any top teams and all games have been at home. They've had the easiest road.
Hiro
The Fletcher brothers were pretty tough. Thanks for the good game Italy. And good luck to Team Japan for their next match.
rainyday
The Team Japan skeptics have been saying some variation of this every time they win. At some point in the span of human history Team Japan will undoubtedly lose a game, or at least not win one in a blowout, and no doubt the skeptics will then proudly proclaim their vindication at having accurately predicted that Japan would someday lose a game.
In the meantime, those of us who like Team Japan can admit to being impressed by their performance so far, and enjoy the game.
Zizi
Are Japan the only team taking this competition seriously?
Other teams look to be made up of part timers
ABJ
garypen
Italy manager Mike Piazza looks exactly the same as he did 20 something years ago, when he played for the NY Mets.
I, otoh, do not. And, I find that extremely unfair.
Oh yeah Almost forgot. Omedeto Japan!
Dango bong
Do people who comment actually watch baseball?
NOMINATION
You should have seen after they win the first 2 WBCs. Whiners were crying about how Japan wouldn't have won if Team USA had their best players as if Japanese players were some little leaguers.
What? Except Czech Republic, most teams are stacked with major leaguers or pro players.
rcch
Some bitterness in the room,… it’s almost like you don’t want Japan to win…; or maybe you REALLY don’t want them to win…, smh…; CONGRATULATIONS, JAPAN. LET’S GO.
Zizi
If Japan win, great for them and the fans!
It's the bandwagon jumpers I don't like. The pepper grinder obsession on Japanese TV is cringeworthy. The people that suddenly like baseball, as with football during the world cup are awful. Smh indeed
Hakman
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Hakman
Yeah, but they had an espresso machine in the dugout. I thought that was awesome.
Hakman
True. He looks like he can still play.
Maybe he should have put himself in the game. It might have made the game closer.
Hakman
I don't give a rat's tail whether they win or not, for whatever that's worth.
Speed
Mexico and even Puerto Rico should make for a more competitive game for Japan.
They HAVE had it pretty easy with only S.Korea being any kind of opponent for them, but SK had really poor pitching so they didn't even come into the equation.
This is a strong J team though. I've got either them or Mexico going all the way.
PS. Good to see Piazza after all these years. He does still look young and good as the above poster mentioned. I have great memories of him coming up with the Dodgers.
rainyday
I don't get this attitude. What does it matter if casual fans, or even people who normally aren't fans at all, get excited about a sport during a particularly exciting series or tournament?
I'm a lifelong baseball fan but the more the merrier I say, I'm happy to see people getting excited about it.
qazwsx
Red Sox fans must be excited to see what Yoshida can do when he joins them this season. As an Oakland fan I am looking forward to seeing our Fujinami (not on samurai Japan) pitch. Ohtani opening the regular season with the Angels versus Oakland.
Used to be I could count and name every Japanese player in MLB on one hand, now I've completely lost track of who is playing there. Great opportunities for Japanese players now.
What I'm not looking forward to is Trevor Bauer playing here in Japan.
master
why?
Dave g
This tournament structure is stupid. They have games in Tokyo and Taiwan, then the winners go all the way to Miami for semifinals and finals. Talk about creating the most unfavorable time diffference/jet lag situation possible. At least put the end games on the West coast and take off 3 hours. Better would be to hold it somewhere in the middle like Honolulu.
rainyday
Cool except that Hawaii doesn't have any major league size baseball stadiums. And being in the middle of the Pacific Ocean its not exactly convenient for most fans. Or teams for that matter.
master
Japan was just gifted 3 and a half games against glorified little league teams.
Excuse me if I don't shed a tear for them having to sit in first class seats for 12 hours.
Yubaru
Only because you are blind to the competition.
rainyday
I'm not blind to anything. Yup, the US/Mexico/Puerto Rico, etc teams (whichever Japan ends up facing) are likely to be tougher opponents than Italy.
This doesn't change the fact that Japan has an extremely strong team that has a good chance of winning the tournament.
rcch
Well, some people are always criticizing… there’s always a but…; be more positive…; also, probably eighty-ninety percent of the people commenting here (jt) live in Japan and/or have Japanese family, so that’s why I said what I said in my previous post…; as for me, I’m not a big baseball fan but considering that this is an important tournament, baseball is huge in Japan and that my Japanese side of the family is super excited, I’m gonna keep watching the games and I’m gonna support… Japan.
Hakman
Nearly 10 hours after this story was posted, and after some readers have pointed out the error, it still hasn't been corrected.
Sloppy journalism.
RKL
“When we see Shohei playing, not only the players but also the Japanese baseball fans, all the nation is feeling something extra,”
Why?
Do Americans feel the same when watching superior US players? Or do they appreciate all the players, regardless of from what country they come?
Lepyon
This competition is a farce. Italy? Baseball????? C'mon!
There simply aren't enough teams playing to have a global competition. Suggested revised format.
US and Japan automatic semifinals. Other Asian teams single game knockout playoff, and winner goes to best of 5 semi against Japan. Rest of world does same, and winner against US.
Finals is 4 out of 7. But it only makes sense if the very best Americans play, not a second rate B squad
smithinjapan
I love how Japanese fans treat this as if they are playing against teams that have the same history and love of baseball Japan does. Italy has no history of baseball until recently, and most have no inkling of what the sport is or how to play. In Australia kricket is favored over baseball about 100,000,000 to 1, if not more of favor of the former. Or, the love rugby. There are maybe six or seven teams, TOPS, that are actually decent and where the countries have a strong background in the sport. It would be like Russia, Canada, or the US asking central African nations to join a new hockey tournament and then playing their best NHL players against people who have never seen ice. I'm embarrassed for fans here who call these "good games". Now, if it ends up being amongst the US, SKorea, Japan, and Cuba, for example, then THAT might be where it gets fun an interesting, although at least the US team isn't fielding professional players.
Absolutely no one doubted Japan would win this game. The only thing "good" about it is that it's impressive Italy even scored at all. But look at the pic... THAT is why this competition is being held; broadcasters and media wanting to showcase Shouhei Otani. That's all. Period.
garypen
If it comes down to a US-Japan final, I'm not sure who I'll be rooting for.
For the sake of marital bliss, probably Japan.
CPTOMO
No games in Taiwan then.
Or Japan.
carp_boya
I hope we get that final. That US line-up is unreal - Betts, Trout, Alonso, Goldschmidt… it’s scary. But Japan has the pitching advantage with Ohtani, Roki Sasaki, even Yu Darvish if needed out of the pen.
Texas A&M Aggie
Really makes no difference if it’s Puerto Rico or Mexico; either team will spank Japan (possibly the Mercy Rule will have to be used) in the semifinals.
peterl
Uh, Japan did play Korea and totally beat them. Also, Japan did beat Cuba in the first WBC. Also, the U.S. is fielding professional players. Ever heard of Mike Trout, Paul Goldschmidt, Pete Alonso, Nolan Arenado, Tim Anderson, Trea Turner, Mookie Betts, and Kyle Schwarber? They are a literal murders row of hitters.
Loveline
What on earth are you talking about??? You do realize they held qualifiers right? LOL, bro you have absolutely no idea how this tournament format works do you.
LOL again!!!!! My dude, the US team consists ENTIRELY of pros.
????? Your source for this…
By this logic should we just boycott all international competition if one country doesn’t have an equal “history and love” for said sport???
You do realize that they’re starting lineup and pitching rotation are filled with MLB players right. lol!! Dude…
Loveline
1) Congratulations on coming up with the worst tournament format idea I’ve ever heard of.
2) The USA is not playing with B Squad. Trout and Mookie Betts alone probably make more than the entire Pool A and B combined.
3) Like I said in another post, Italy’s team is filled with MLB players.
Yubaru
Just done this way so Japan could have a great chance at getting to the semi-finals!