Munetaka Murakami defeated Mexico 6-5 at WALK-OFF, and Shohei Ohtani brought Japan back for the second time
In the World Baseball Classic semifinals against Mexico, Munetaka Murakami’s double hits the wall for Shohei Ohtani to score in second place, while pinch runner Ukyo Shuto scores in first place, defeating Mexico in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic to beat Japan to 3. led to the second final.
Japan never took the lead until the final hit of the game. She lost 3-0 to Mexico in the course of the contest, then 5-3.
Mexican closer Giovanni Gallegos hit a double for Ohtani, walked Masataka Yoshida, and let Murukami hit the game-winning hit. Shuto substitutes for Yoshida as a pinch hitter.
Japan, who won their first two WBCs in 2006 and 2009 and have reached the semi-finals on their last two occasions, will face the USA in Miami on Tuesday.
Mexico trailed 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning, and Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels hit the first pitch off Gallegos of the St. Louis Cardinals for a double.
Munetaka Murakami’s walk-off double against the United States led Japan to victory
Shohei Ohtani doubled in the 9th inning to turn Japan around and beat Mexico
A Japanese player jumps out onto the field for the third WBC title match
For the past two years, Murakami, Japan’s Central League MVP, has hit one-on-one pitches off the right-center field wall. Ohtani scored a goal and the speedy Shuto also returned easily, sparking a frenzied celebration.
After the game, Ohtani said through an interpreter, “I wish I could have scored earlier so that the pitchers could feel comfortable, but the pitchers showed their strength. I’m glad we were able to win.”
Taisei Ota wins with no runs in the top of the 9th inning.
In the fourth inning, Mexico jumped into first place with a three-run home run by Luis Julius of the Milwaukee Brewers. Japan tied the score in the seventh with a three-run shot by Yoshida, which Ohtani and Kensuke Kondo scored.
In the eighth inning, an RBI double by Alex Verdugo of the Boston Red Sox and a run-scoring single by Isaac Paredes of the Tampa Bay Rays gave Mexico a 5–3 lead. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Hodaka Yamakawa’s sacrifice fly cut Japan’s deficit in half.
Angels Mexican starter Patrick Sandoval pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out six.
When asked about feelings in the dugout after Yoshida’s three-run homer tied the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Japan’s Lars Nootvaal said the team is trying to keep its cool and stay focused. said only.
“It’s a crazy game.
Boston Red Sox signing Masataka Yoshida hits a three-run homer after losing 3-0
Shoots by Ohtani and Kensuke Kondo tied the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning.
However, Mexico took a 5–3 lead in the eighth inning with RBIs from Alex Verdugo (above) and Isaac Paredes.
The Mexican pitcher kept Japan at bay in the eighth inning but couldn’t hold on in the ninth.
It was Munetaka Murakami who scored goals for Ohtani and Shuto to give Japan the victory.
Japan will face the United States in the final at Lawn Depot Park in Miami.
“Yoshida has been huge to us throughout this tournament, and we were getting players throughout the game, but we weren’t cashing in on them.
“So I think we, as a group, had the confidence that we could scratch someone. When does that matter… That’s kind of the mentality of the group, never give up.” We play for our country in the WBC, it’s unbelievable.
After the hit and Japan’s celebration, Ohtani explained to Fox’s Ken Rosenthal what the team was feeling and what crossed his mind in the bottom of the ninth.
“Murakami… he was in a bit of a slump, but he was… in a crisis,” Ohtani said through a translator.
“I was leading the inning and he threw it in the strike zone. I just wanted to have a good swing.” It was just above and had a good swing.
Ohtani and Japan are ready to face Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout and Team USA in the WBC Championship Game.
Ohtani, who plays two-way, told Rosenthal that he can pitch, but wants to take a few cracks at bat first.
“I’m definitely ready to throw anywhere, but before that, I need to hit and put some runs on the board before I can pitch,” he said in Japanese.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/mlb/article-11884009/Shohei-Ohtani-double-sparks-comeback-Japan-Munetaka-Murakami-hits-WALK-beat-Mexico-6-5.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 Munetaka Murakami defeated Mexico 6-5 at WALK-OFF, and Shohei Ohtani brought Japan back for the second time
