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1of18Japan pitcher Shohei Ohtani (16) celebrates after defeating the United States at the World Baseball Classic final game, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Miami.Marta Lavandier/APShow MoreShow Less2of18Japan pitcher Shohei Ohtani (16) celebrates after defeating the United States at the World Baseball Classic final game, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Miami.Marta Lavandier/APShow MoreShow Less3of184of18Japan pitcher Shohei Ohtani (16) celebrates after defeating the U.S. at the World Baseball Classic final game, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Miami.Marta Lavandier/APShow MoreShow Less5of18Japan pitcher Shohei Ohtani (16) celebrates after defeating the U.S. at the World Baseball Classic final game, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Miami.Marta Lavandier/APShow MoreShow Less6of187of18Japan player Shohei Ohtani (16) smiles during the player introduction before the World Baseball Classic championship game against the United States, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Miami.Wilfredo Lee/APShow MoreShow Less8of18Japan player Shohei Ohtani warms up before the World Baseball Classic championship game against the United States, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Miami.Marta Lavandier/APShow MoreShow Less9of1810of18Japan's Kazuma Okamoto (25) runs bases after hitting a home run during fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic championship game, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Miami.Wilfredo Lee/APShow MoreShow Less11of18Japan's Kazuma Okamoto (25) celebrates after hitting a home run during fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic championship game against the United States, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Miami.Wilfredo Lee/APShow MoreShow Less12of1813of18U.S. designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) walks to first base during third inning of a World Baseball Classic championship game against Japan, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Miami.Wilfredo Lee/APShow MoreShow Less14of18Japan's Kazuma Okamoto (25) hits a home run during fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic championship game against the United States, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Miami.Wilfredo Lee/APShow MoreShow Less15of1816of18U.S. pitcher Kyle Freehand (21) throws during fourth inning of a World Baseball Classic championship game against Japan, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Miami.Wilfredo Lee/APShow MoreShow Less17of18Japan catcher Yuhei Nakamura (27) chases a foul ball during third inning of a World Baseball Classic championship game against the United States, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Miami.Wilfredo Lee/APShow MoreShow Less18of18
MIAMI (AP) — Shohei Ohtani emerged from the bullpen and fanned Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout for the final out in a matchup the whole baseball world wanted to see, leading Japan over the defending champion United States 3-2 Tuesday night for its first World Baseball Classic title since 2009.
Ohtani, the two-way star who has captivated fans across two continents, beat out an infield single in the seventh inning as a designated hitter, and walked down the left-field line to Japan’s bullpen to warm up for his third mound appearance of the tournament. He walked big league batting champion Jeff McNeil before getting Mookie Betts to ground into a double play.
Trout, the U.S. captain and a three-time MVP, then ended the game by striking out on a full-count breaking ball.
Ohtani batted .435 with one homer, four doubles, eight RBIs and 10 walks as Japan joined the Dominican Republic in 2013 to become the only unbeaten champions of baseball’s premier national team tournament. Ohtani was 2-0 with a save and a 1.86 ERA on the mound, striking out 11 in 9 2/3 innings. ___
