TOKYO — Defending champion Japan hit 4 residence runs — two by Chicago Cubs slugger Seiya Suzuki — to beat Korea 8-6 on Saturday and keep undefeated in Pool C of the World Baseball Classic.
Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida additionally homered for Japan. Ohtani’s homer adopted his grand slam Friday in a 13-0 win over Chinese Taipei.
Both groups confirmed extra energy than pitching, significantly in the primary 4 innings in a slugfest as the 2 mixed for 5 residence runs topped by Suzuki’s pair on the Tokyo Dome.
Japan and Australia are 2-0 in Pool C play and meet Sunday as the 2 favorites to advance to the quarterfinals. In Sunday’s different sport, Korea (1-1) faces Chinese Taipei (1-2).
Korea took a 3-0 lead in the highest of the primary inning off starter Yusei Kikuchi with consecutive singles by Do Yeong Kim, Jahmai Jones and Jung Hoo Lee and a two-run double by Bo Gyeong Moon.
Suzuki hit a two-run homer in the underside of the inning to tug Japan again to 3-2.
Japan surged forward 5-3 in the third on solo residence runs by Ohtani, Suzuki and Yoshida.
Korea had its own residence run derby in the highest of the fourth, drawing even 5-5 on Hyeseong Kim’s two-run homer off Japan’s second pitcher, Hiromi Itoh. It was the fifth residence run between the 2 groups by way of 4 innings.
Japan broke by way of in the seventh to steer 8-5. Young Kyu Kim, who entered in aid earlier in the inning, walked Suzuki with the bases loaded to drive in a run, and Yoshida adopted with a single to attain two extra.
The Koreans scored one in the eighth to make it 8-6 however left the bases loaded when Yuki Matsumoto struck out Hyeseong Kim.
Atsuki Taneichi was the profitable pitcher with a save for Taisei Ota. Yeong Hyun Park took the loss.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was on the sport Saturday. On Friday, Timothée Chalamet and Bad Bunny confirmed up.
Fairchild’s grand slam powers Chinese Taipei to 14-0 win
Stuart Fairchild’s second-inning grand slam powered Chinese Taipei to a 14-0 victory over winless Czechia.
The victory was Chinese Taipei’s first in the event and got here the day after it was pounded 13-0 by Japan.
The sport was stopped by the mercy rule with Chinese Taipei main by 10 or extra after seven innings.
Chinese Taipei performed small ball for a 2-0 lead in the primary inning, capitalizing on two bunt singles, a double steal and a throwing error by Czechia catcher Martin Cervenka. It was Chinese Taipei’s first two runs of the event.
It was huge ball in the second inning.
With two out, Czechia pitcher Jan Novak gave up a single and walked two, setting the stage for Fairchild’s blast. Fairchild, who certified for the staff by way of his Taiwanese mom, performs in the Cleveland Guardians group.
Chinese Taipei added two extra runs in the fourth, one other in the fifth and 5 in the sixth. It additionally set a WBC event document with seven stolen bases.
Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang acquired the victory, and Novak was the shedding pitcher.
