Japan and Australia both have 2-0 records heading into Sunday’s World Baseball Classic. Japan has advanced to the knockout rounds from Group C, while Australia needs to beat either Japan or South Korea on Monday to advance.
That opportunity will have to wait until Monday.
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Masataka Yoshida hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning, giving Japan the lead after going scoreless for the first six innings. Then, Japan scored two more runs in the eighth inning with RBI doubles by Irumi Sato and Seiya Suzuki, with the bases loaded and a walk (after Shohei Ohtani was intentionally walked).
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Australian starting pitcher Connor McDonald shut out Japan through the first three innings, although three batters were loaded and one hit allowed. That included getting Shohei Ohtani to strike out and fly out in his first two at-bats.
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Japan threatened to score in the fourth inning after Warwick Thorbold took over for MacDonald. Kazuma Okamoto walked in the first inning and then Shugo Maki hit a single. After Sosuke Genda flew out, Kenya Wakazuki loaded the bases for Shohei Ohtani.
However, Maki was picked off second base by Australian catcher Robbie Perkins to end the inning. That left Ohtani with the score at the plate at 2-2 and no chance to rush.
Australia got its breakthrough in the sixth inning when Aaron Whitefield hit his first single against Chihiro Sumida. Then he stole second base.
Whitefield then attempted to steal third base when Alex Hall loaded the bases. Japanese catcher Kenya Wakatsuki and third baseman Kazuma Okamoto’s pitch missed to left, sending Whitefield on base for a 1-0 lead.
This story will be updated with more information.
