Final thoughts
They are handing out medals on the field, so I think this makes it a perfect time to wrap things up. With the exception of one blowout (let’s not talk about USA vs Cuba ever again) these knockout stage games presented international baseball at its finest. It was a pleasure covering it for The Guardian. Thanks to everybody for following along with us here and particularly to everyone who contributed to these live blogs over the last few days. Ciao!
Updated
I received a lot of emails over these last few innings and didn’t have time to publish them all. I did very much appreciate the one comparing cricket to heavy metal acts: you were definitely speaking my language there!
I think these illustrate how exciting this year’s WBC was and I hope that this means the next one will be an even bigger deal.
Email from Joe Pearson:
It was fun to ride along. What a great game!
Email from Matthew Wai:
Hi Hunter,
Matthew from Sydney and is currently enjoying the hell out of your live commentary on Guardian as I am not able to watch the game live... (stuck at work).
Wanted to express that my love for baseball has grown exponentially over this WBC period.
Absolutely crushed batting, exuberating pitches and passionate fans are the factors of the sport taking over top spot of my list right NOW!
Unfortunately, the sport will neve be as big here with (cough cough, cricket) in place.
Keep banging these out, loving it.
Thanks, Matthew
I feel like the broadcast crew was hoping for more emotion from Ohtani, but he seemed surprisingly chill about the whole thing. Certainly less riled up then I am, and all I’ve been doing is sitting here typing.
The cameras stick with Ohtani who speaks through a translater. They mention that this was his first time closing a game since 2016. “That experience was huge for me. I knew how to prepare for it.” I’ll say!
Japan wins the 2023 World Baseball Classic!
What a storybook ending! Japan has won its third WBC, defeating the defending champions in the USA and Shohei Ohtani has gotten the final out at the expense of LA Angels teammate Mike Trout!
What a game! What a tournament! Long live the World Baseball Classic!
USA 2-3 Japan, FINAL
USA 2-3 Japan, FINAL
Trout takes Ohtani’s first pitch for a ball. Trout swings and misses at a 100mph heater. Unfathomable. 1-1. The next pitch is just outside. 2-1. Trout swings and misses at another fastball. 2-2! Team USA is down to its final strike!
The next pitch bounces. A full count! 3-2. HE SWINGS AND MISSES. OHTANI HAS STRUCK OUT TROUT TO GET THE SAVE IN THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC FINAL!
USA 2-3 Japan, top 9th inning
Bobby Witt Jr is in to pinch-run for McNeil. Betts is the next batter. One on, nobody out. Betts take a fastball on the corner. 0-1. On the next pitch, he bounces into a double play.
It’s all down to Mike Trout vs. Shohei Ohtani!
USA 2-3 Japan, top 9th inning
Jeff McNeil is up to start the top of the 9th against Ohtani, who is making only his second relief appearance. He works a full count, fouls the next pitch off. Still 3-2. Ohtani hasn’t gotten a swing and a miss yet, he’s thrown three balls and gotten three foul balls.
And he throws ball four. McNeil takes his base on a very close pitch.
USA 2-3 Japan, bottom 9th inning
The amazing thing? The third hitter in this lineup that the USA will trot out against Ohtani? That will be his teammate Mike Trout, potentially for the final out of the game. This is like a movie script!
Updated
Joe Pearson on Ohtani:
Ohtani might be the best baseball player right now. For a football reference, think of him with the goalkeeping skill of Courtois (as a pitcher) and the scoring skill of Haaland (as a hitter). Just a phenomenal talent!
I can not vouch for the accuracy of these comparison, but can say that he is indeed a phenomenal talent and if he can close out a victory for his home country against Team USA in a one-run game that will only add to his legend.
USA 2-3 Japan, bottom 8th inning
Genda is up with a runner on first and two down. Williams gets a strike on Genda, but on the throw, Yamada somehow beats out a laser-accurate throw to second base.
So there is a runner in scoring position now with one out. 0-1 on Genda. The next pitch is a ball. 1-1. Genda gets in front of the next pitch. 0-2. Williams’s next pitch is in the dirt, blocked by Realmuto. 2-2. Genda taps one to third and the throw just beats him.
We’re heading to the top of the ninth, in a one-run game and Ohtani is going to try to close this out! HOLY COW!
USA 2-3 Japan, bottom 8th inning
Two down, nobody out. Yamada gets ahead of the count 2-0 before looking at a strike. 2-1. He looks at another one. 2-2. The next pitch is too low. 3-2.
Ohtani is throwing in the bullpen and I am so pumped right now it’s ridiculous.
Back to this at-bat, Yamada fouls off a pitch. 3-2. The next pitch is outside and that’s ball four.
USA 2-3 Japan, bottom 8th inning
Okamoto works a full count, but the result is the same as the end of the previous at-bat: he strikes out swinging.
USA 2-3 Japan, bottom 8th inning
Devin Williams, currently with the Milwaukee Brewers, is up next and he managed to get the mighty Murakami to strike out swinging on three pitches.
Email from William Bradley:
Dear Hunter,
Thanks to you and the Guardian for blogging the championship between Japan (where I reside) and the U.S. (country of which I hold a passport). So far a good game! Though I am not a great fan of national anthems, I couldn’t believe your saying the Star Spangled Banner suffers in comparison to Japan’s! The one thing going for Japan’s, is that it is short!
As for the game, happy that Murakami has gotten a home run - I’m sure you know (but didn’t see that you mentioned that he had 56 last season, 2nd all-time and highest ever for a Japanese national). The local media have spent a lot of time feeling sorry for him at the opening of the WBC since he started out very slowly. Perhaps he has paled in comparison to Otani who has been doing well from the start? Once again the dynamics of players who star in Japan vs. those who star outside of Japan (evident in football/soccer) is at work, but hey, they’re all one team, right?
Hello, I knew this factoid about Murakami, but admittingly only because the broadcasters admitted it during the broadcast. (My knowledge of baseball is very MLB_centric). As far as my National Anthem opinions: I am infamous for my feelings about the Star-Spangled Banner (I mainly prefer the instrumental versions, thank you very much.)
USA 2-3 Japan, top 8th inning
Realmuto pops up. That’s two down. What a key out for Darvish. Mullins flies out, but this is definitely a lot less comfortable for Japan. To the bottom of the 8th!
USA 2-3 Japan, top 8th inning
A potentially game-changing at-bat from Schwarber there. Now Trea Turner is up with the USA feeling new life.
He hits a 1-2 pitch to the outfield for a single and he represents the tying run. I guess this is why Japan was wary about starting Darvish against these US hitters who are more aware of the pitcher. These last two hitters look more comfortable.
Solo home run! (Kyle Schwarber, USA 2-3)
USA 2-3 Japan, top 8th inning
Schwarber puts up a good battle against Darvish, fouling off pitch after pitch on a 2-2 count. On the eighth pitch, he manages to foul off yet another one. Same thing on the ninth pitch. And on the tenth pitch…
HE HITS A HUGE HOME RUN. It’s a one run game!
USA 1-3 Japan, top 8th inning
Current San Diego Parde Yu Darvish, originally scheduled to be today’s starter, is here to be the set-up man for Japan. Darvish is one of the most successful Japanese pitchers to ever reach MLB. The five-time All-Star has a 93-38 record after spending a decade in the majors.
He also gets Arenado to fly out to center for the first out of the 8th inning.
Email from Joel Eley:
Hi Hunter,
Still could go either way but just wanted to say thanks for your coverage through the tournament. Pity yesterday’s game was not on but hey ho. Really been great.
I missed yesterday’s game between Japan and Mexico due to prior commitments and was so annoyed when I caught the exciting conclusion via replay on the bus back home. It might end up being the best baseball game of the year no matter what happens during the MLB season.
USA 1-3 Japan, bottom 7th inning
The call stands, as expected. He might have been out but it was so close that the initial ruling can’t be overturned. There’s just not enough evidence.
Yoshida will be hitting next, he hits into a double play so the non-overall call doesn't hurt the US. Now they just have six innings left to get two more runs.
Here’s the problem for Japan: they are definitely not out of the woods yet. That is a very surmountable deficit for this lineup.
USA 1-3 Japan, bottom 7th inning
Ohtani, who might end up closing this game out if Japan’s score remains the same, is up next with one out and nobody on base.
He outruns a routine grounder and is called safe on first! It’s a bang-bang play and it’s going to be challenged here.
USA 1-3 Japan, bottom 7th inning
David Bednar, an All-Star for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, is pitching for the US and he gets Kondoh to pop out to start the bottom of the 7th.
Email from Alexandra Ashton:
Had a talk with one of my American acquaintances over me watching this final. He had this to say: “You get to see the best Japanese player ever.. on an MLB team dedicated to waste his talents forever.” Even I, a totally lost foreigner, know that he’s talking about Shohei Ohtani and he’s very good, but what team does he play for? Are they really that bad? And, surely, no world-class player could have their prime wasted without winning anything? (Tottenham supporter here. We’ve two.)
On a less comical note, what specifically makes Ohtani so good? I must say, my untrained eye doesn’t see that much difference between him and the other players. Maybe it’s an off day? I’ve no idea.
He plays for the LA Angels, who also have two in Trout, maybe the best all-around hitter in the game during his career and Ohtani. What makes Ohtani so special is that he is one of the best starting pitchers in MLB and, on the days when he’s not pitching, he’s also their designated hitter and one of the toughest outs in the game. That genuinely hasn’t happened since the days of Babe Ruth!
And yet the Angels have failed to make the postseason during the stretch when they’ve had both of them in the roster, despite the fact that MLB has extended the playoffs. It’s really a colossal embarrassment for the league.
Seventh inning stretch
In memory of great jazz organist Joey DeFrancesco.
USA 1-3 Japan, top 7th inning
Goldschmidt hits into a double play to end the US’s biggest threat of the game so far. Wow, that turned quickly.
USA 1-3 Japan, top 7th inning
So runners on first and second with nobody out. Trout, who has not had a big game so far in the biggest game of his career, lines out to right.
USA 1-3 Japan, top 7th inning
Email from Sachiko Sato
“one can’t say enough about how this Japanese pitching staff has so far kept this lineup of big bats at bay.”
Actually, you have said nothing about the Japanese pitchers. Can you tell us about the teams they play for, their stats etc
Fair enough! I’ll try to be a little bit better at this here when I can. The new Japanese pitcher is Taisei Ota, from the Yorimuri Giants, he has 1-3 record, 2.05 ERA and he has just walked a pinch-hitting Jeff McNeil and a single to Betts to start the top of the 7th inning.
Email from Farrell:
Subject: From Tāmaki-makau-rau, A/NZ
Great to be able to follow this from the Devonport to Auckland ferry.
If you think of a seven game series as a unit,baseball is not so different from a five day test.
Both can be riveting.
Farrell
That actually makes a lot of sense, thinking of the individual unit of cricket as being the equivalent of a baseball postseason series.
USA 1-3 Japan, bottom 6th
Nootbaar takes strike one. 0-1. The next pitch is too hight. 1-1. The next pitch breaks a bit but lands in the strike zone. 1-2. Adam’s a strike away from escaping his self-created jam. Nootbarr fouls the next pitch. Still 1-2. The next pitch is way off the corner. 2-2. He flies this one out to Betts and we head to the seventh inning with Japan’s lead remaining two runs.
USA 1-3 Japan, bottom 6th
Ohtani has to head back out to hit here in the bottom of the sixth. Adam’s next pitch, that one is outside to Nakamura. 1-0. He finally gets a strike on the corner on the next pitch. 1-1 but Adam loses it once again and issues three strat pitches.
The bases are loaded with one out. The good news is that he can get out of this inning with an out. He just has to get Nootbaar out here.
USA 1-3 Japan, bottom 6th inning
Yamada promptly steals a base on the first pitch to Genda, surprisingly the first in this game! It’s a 1-0 count on Genda, at least until the next pitch when it promptly becomes 2-0. He fouls off the next. 2-1. The next pitch, way outside. 3-1 the next pitch is outside, so that’s back-to-back walks issued by Adam.
Always a little anticlimactic whenever a walk follows a stolen base.
USA 1-3 Japan, bottom 6th inning
Yamada is up next to see if he can prevent this from being a 1-2-3 inning. He works a full count and then takes ball four. So that’s a two-out base runner for Japan.
USA 1-3 Japan, bottom 6th inning
Okamoto’s up next. He’s hit a single and home run already in today’s game, but this time around he can only strike out on four pitches. Two down.
USA 1-3 Japan, bottom 6th inning
Jason Adam is now pitching for the US and he gets Murakami to swing-and-miss on a 2-2 count for the first out of the bottom of the 6th.
Email from Sara Myers:
Hi Hunter,
Cricket looks fascinating and I could tolerate the time-sink; I actually don’t like the new MLB pitch clock as I feel the games are now too short!
However, I just can’t wrap my head around a sport that lasts as long as cricket can and still end in a draw.
Thanks for the play-by-play, go USA.
Thank you, I’ve been having a blast these last few days! I’m going to be honest, I’m on the record as being a huge fan of the MLB pitch clock, but that’s partly because I’m starting to feel my age and realizing that I just don’t have as much time left as I did when I was back in my 20s and rooting for extra-inning games every single night.
USA 1-3 Japan, top 6th inning
Mullins strikes out on a 2-2 pitch and one can’t say enough about how this Japanese pitching staff has so far kept this lineup of big bats at bay.
USA 1-3 Japan, top 6th inning
Realmuto up with one out and nobody on base and he pulls a ball to third. That’s two down.
USA 1-3 Japan, top 6th inning
Is that Ohtani heading to the bullpen? OMG! I am sorry about instantly sounding like a teenager here but that would be incredible theater.
Hiromi Itoh gets Turner to fly out for the first out of the sixth inning.
Email from Olly Crawford-Ellis:
Hi to everyone else following this!
It’s nice to know that we can have a global conversation about mutual sports confusion in the sport section of a major news website. This is in-depth analysis at its best.
Cricket is easy though. People stand in a field for 5 days and only stop for tea and sandwiches sometimes. After 5 days of this, sometimes there will be a winner but usually not.
Cheers!
Hold up one second I’m now going to check whether it’s too late to become a professional cricket as an uncoordinated 41-year-old who does not understand even the basic concept of the sport because that sounds fun as heck.
USA 1-3 Japan, bottom 5th inning
Yoshida takes ball one. Then ball two. The next is a strike. 2-1. He fouls off the next, evening up the count. He then bounces out to the pitcher and that’s five innings in the book.
USA 1-3 Japan, bottom 5th inning
Ohtani takes a massive swing and comes up empty. 0-1. He then takes a ball. 1-1. The next pitch, just off the outside corner. 2-1. He grounds out to the shift on the next pitch, Kondoh takes second base on the play, so he’s in scoring position for Yoshida.
USA 1-3 Japan, bottom 5th inning
Freeland walks Kondoh on five pitches, putting a runner on base for Ohtani with two out.
USA 1-3 Japan, bottom 5th inning
Freeland is back out for one more inning, presumably his last. He gets Nootbaar to fly out for the first out of the bottom of the 5th.
Email from Rosemary Chiba:
Great to see live coverage on the G!
I’m also a base-ball ignoramus but married to a Japanese man who can enlighten me and literally one town down the road from Otani, plus Sasaki from our coast so, rooting for Japan’s victory comeback since 2009.
It’s definitely a great matchup: Japan won back in 2009 while the US is defending champions. Couldn’t ask for a better one, in retrospect.
USA 1-3 Japan, top 5th inning
Schwarber takes ball one. Then he takes ball two. Things are getting dicey for Japan here. The next pitch is in the dirt. 3-0. Takahashi’s one pitch away from walking the bases full. Schwarber has the green light, unfortunately, as he skies the pitch to the outfield for the final out.
We’re halfway through regulation and this is definitely a much more briskly paced game than Saturday’s between the US and Cuba.
USA 1-3 Japan, top 5th inning
Arenado lays off a pitch just an inch too low. That’s a good eye right there. 1-0. He takes one way outside. 2-0. Arenado then pulls a splitter and gets on base. That’s two on base, still two down.
USA 1-3 Japan, top 5th inning
Takahashi gets ahead of Goldschmidt 1-2, then throws a ball into the dirt for ball two. 2-2. Then a fastball at the knees catches him looking. Strike three! Two down in the inning.
USA 1-3 Japan, top 5th inning
Trout is up next with a runner on first. Takahashi falls behind him 2-0. He takes a big rip on the next pitch but makes no contact. 2-1. Trout fouls the next pitch off. 2-2. The next pitch… Trout barely escapes letting it hit him. 3-2. He fouls the next pitch off. 3-2.
He swings and misses! That’s a major out there! One down in the inning.
USA 1-3 Japan, top 5th inning
Hiroto Takahashi is up pitching for Japan. Betts hits a looper and it looks like Japan’s Murakami’s throw to first is not in time. The umpires call Betts out but it’s incorrect. The US challenge the play and it’s rightfully overturned.
Betts is on first with nobody out.
Joe Pearson:
I had a coworker from Sri Lanka who tried to explain cricket to me. I was absolutely flummoxed. Hi to Olly in NZ!
My first editor remains a diehard cricket fan and I had hoped to absorb some of his knowledge, but nothing so far.
I’ve watched clips, I’m transfixed but watching a hole game involves a time commitment that not even extra-inning baseball games have prepared me for.
USA 1-3 Japan, bottom 4th inning
Genda strikes out swinging. Two down in the inning. Nakamura hits the ball to Arenado at third, who throws to Goldschmidt at first to complete the out.
A quick inning, but Japan adds to their lead. To the fifth inning!
USA 1-3 Japan, bottom 4th inning
Yamada flies out on two pitches for the first out. Freeland’s keeping the line moving here, which is good, but Japan’s still scoring on him. That’s not as good.
Solo home run! (Kazuma Okamoto, USA 1-3 Japan)
USA 1-3 Japan, bottom 4th inning
Okamoto hits a home run off of Freeland! Japan pad their lead!
Email from Alexandra Ashton:
I’m afraid I’m in the same boat as Olly Crawford-Ellis. I’ve been watching the match (game?) on the side from the UK, and I barely understand a thing. The cricket won’t help me, though: never quite got that one either.
I’ve had this page open to try and get something into my football-brain by reading your commentary. Cricket analogies may be out, but maybe a footy comparison? (Just a joke.)
I’ll be honest. I didn’t become a sports fan until after I graduated college and it took me so long to figure out baseball’s rules so I truly understand that it’s a lot.
Unfortunately, it’s not easy to compare it to footy, which is very much a team sport in comparison to baseball. The main challenge is between the pitcher and the opposing hitter, the only time it becomes a team sport is when the ball is in play (i.e. when the hitter makes contact and the ball remains within fair territory). At that point, the entire team defense is activated and often needs to work together to throw the base runner out.
Does that make any sense? Probably not! I understand. The best way to learn is to just sit and watch with a fan who enjoys rambling about the game.
USA 1-2 Japan, top 4th inning
Anderson flies out on two pitches and, oh, Japan does get a 1-2-3 inning. I must tip my cap. (Realizes he is not wearing a cap. Tips bangs instead.)
USA 1-2 Japan, top 4th inning
Cedric Mullins falls behind 0-2 but takes two pitches outside. 2-2. Eventually, he lines out to left. Two away.
USA 1-2 Japan, top 4th inning
Togo’s out there for another inning facing Realmuto, who falls behind 1-2 before grounding out to short.
Email from Boris Feigin:
Hi, Hunter,
How are you? Following along at work from Australia, hehe:)
It’s definitely been a great tournament so far!
Scoring only one there is definitely something that may come back to haunt Japan later...
Cheers,
Boris
It’s nice to know that this truly is being watched around the world. When MLB first announced the WBC, it was an open question whether it would stick around. It feels like it’s definitely starting to become a real event that really matters to fans around the globe.
As far as Japan: yeah two runs are not going to be enough to beat this US offense.
USA 1-2 Japan, bottom 3rd inning
Yoshida lays off the first three pitches, all of them outside. 3-0. He then induces a double play and that’s that for the third inning.
That’s kind of a 1-2-3 inning. Or maybe a 1-3-4 inning? I don’t know what exactly to call it.
USA 1-2 Japan, bottom 3rd inning
Kyle Freeland is up next pitching for the US, and manager Mark DeRosa hopes they can get a few innings from him out of the bullpen. His first task? Getting Ohtani out. No biggie right? Ohtani works a full count before taking a strike three.
That’s gotta feel good for Freeland.
Email from Sachiko Sato:
When are we going to see a WBC for club teams? Some of the Japanese pro teams deserve a chance to play against MLB teams or the Cuban league teams.
That is a fascinating idea but not one that MLB will ever let happen other than in select Spring Training exhibitions. It might be interesting if various international leagues make deals with each other to have something happen, that is unlikely but not impossible.
Still, I would 100% watch.
USA 1-2 Japan, top 3rd inning
Togo’s command is quite iffy right here. He falls behind Turner, a dangerous guy to do that against, with a first pitch way outside. Turner fouls the next pitch off, 1-1. Turner chops the next one foul. 1-2. He then swings and misses on the next pitch to end the top of the third. To the bottom of the third!
USA 1-2 Japan, top 3rd inning
Schwarber gets ahead of Togo 3-1 before fouling off the next pitch and then taking a walk. Runners on first and second now.
Again, this US offense is not going to gift you very many 1-2-3 innings.
USA 1-2 Japan, top 3rd inning
Arenado is up next, he gets ahead of the count 3-1 and then takes a walk.
USA 1-2 Japan, top 3rd inning
Togo gets Goldschmidt to fly out. That’s pretty efficient.
USA 1-2 Japan, top 3rd inning
Shosei Togo is pitching to Trout and gets him to strike out on four pitches. Always an impressive thing to do, in any context but particular with a title on the line.
Email from Olly Crawford-Ellis:
I am in New Zealand and supposed to be working right now but I think it’s important to let you and Joe Pearson know that you are not alone.
I don’t really follow baseball or understand it though, so can you please explain everything in cricket analogies?
I am afraid we are at a crossroads here. I have spent the last 12 years or so, desperately trying to understand the first thing about how cricket is supposed to work and haven’t gotten any closer than I’ve started but thank you for reading.
USA 1-2 Japan, bottom 2nd inning
Japan has runners on second and third with two out now. Kondoh scalds a pitch on a 1-2 count that lands foul, something that would have cleared the bases if it landed elsewhere. Instead, it’s still 1-2.
Kondoh fouls the next pitch off on a check-swing. 1-2. Kondoh pops one up for the final out of the inning. The US limit the damage but Japan takes the lead. The good news for the US: there are a lot of innings left and it’s hard to imagine the Japanese pitching staff is doing to limit this team to just two runs.
RBI groundout (Lars Nootbaar, USA 1-2 Japan)
USA 1-2 Japan, bottom 2nd inning
Loup on with bases loaded and just one out. The first pitch is a strike to Nootbaar, who is showing bunt. A sacrifice bunt in this situation? That feels weird.
The next pitch is a fastball for a strike. Loup gets ahead 0-2 before hitting an RBI grounder to first and Japan takes the lead. That’s as good as a sac bunt in my eyes.
Updated
Joe Pearson:
Technically, he mansplains, Rambo did not draw First Blood, which was kind of the point.
Anybody else emailing you, or just me?
I will admit to never having watched a single “Rambo” movie, I have only read the MAD Magazine parodies.
And yes, so far it’s just been you. It’s okay, I am very good at talking to myself.
USA 1-1 Japan, bottom 2nd inning
And here comes Aaron Loup to put out the fire. Let’s see how this works out.
USA 1-1 Japan, bottom 2nd inning
Catcher Yuhei Nakamura is up next. The US is starting the bullpen going early here. Aaron Loup is throwing, getting warm. On a 2-0 pitch, Kakamura hits a pitch into foul territory. 2-1. He takes a strike in the zone. 2-2. The next pitch is just inside. 3-2. And the next one just misses as well. Bases loaded, just one out and this is a chance for Japan to do some major damage.
USA 1-1 Japan, bottom 2nd inning
Sosuke Genda hits a single to left, that’s two on with one out.
USA 1-1 Japan, bottom 2nd inning
Nobody out, one run in and a runner on first base. Tetsuto Yamada is up next. He gets ahead of the count 2-0 and then fouls off a pitch. 2-1. Yamada has to duck out of the way from the next pitch. 3-1. He swings and misses at the next. 3-2. He fouls the next one off. 3-2 again. He hits a flyball to Betts for the first out.
USA 1-1 Japan, bottom 2nd inning
Kazuma Okamoto singles to right. Japan is fighting back this inning.
Solo home run! (Munetaka Murakami USA 1-1 Japan)
USA 1-1 Japan, bottom 2nd inning
Well, that was fast. Munetaka Murakami, who has been having a good week, immediately hits a solo home run to tie up this game.
USA 1-0 Japan, top 2nd inning
Betts hits a flyball to left and that will do it, but the USA scores first and, to nobody’s surprise, Trea Turner has drawn first blood. Just call him Rambo.
USA 1-0 Japan, top 2nd inning
Anderson hits a base hit and that’s runners on first and second as the order turns over.
Once again, we’re not going to see a lot of 1-2-3 innings from Team USA’s lineup.
USA 1-0 Japan, top 2nd inning
Cedric Mullins is up next and he promptly strikes out. Two down, runner still on first. Tim Anderson is up next.
USA 1-0 Japan, top 2nd inning
J.T. Realmuto works a full count before hitting a base hit to left field.
Solo home run! (Trea Turner, USA 1-0 Japan)
USA 1-0 Japan, top 2nd inning
That’s the reason that Trea Turner was moved up in the lineup. He hits yet another home run, this one on a 2-1 count and the US takes a swift 1-0 lead!
USA 0-0 Japan, top 2nd inning
Kyle Schwarber is up to start the second inning against Imanaga. Shwarber flies out to right for a quick out.
Email from Joe Pearson:
Have they not told us who the umpires are and where they’re from, or did I miss it?
If they did, I missed it too. Honestly, not that it’s something I ever pay close attention to. My ears only perk up when a legendarily bad one is on duty and Angel Hernandez is not in the building for this one to the best of my knowledge.
USA 0-0 Japan, bottom 1st inning
Recent Boston Red Sox Masataka Yoshida signing is up next with a runner on first and two out. Kelly gets ahead of him 1-2 as Yoshida keeps fouling off pitches before taking strike three.
No scoring after the first inning, this definitely feels like a different game than Saturday’s.
USA 0-0 Japan, bottom 1st inning
Shohei Ohtani, the most exciting player in baseball, is up next. Kelly falls behind in the count 2-0, possibly pitching him carefully. The next pitch is also outside. 3-0. The next pitch is a strike. 3-1. The next pitch is just off the corner and Ohtani knows that it’s a ball and takes his base.
USA 0-0 Japan, bottom 1st inning
Kensuke Kondoh grounds out to Trea Turner at shortstop and that’s two down relatively quickly.
USA 0-0 Japan, bottom 1st inning
Lars Nootbaar flies out on one pitch. That’s a nice start for Merrill Kelly.
Email from Joe Pearson in Indianapolis:
Those Japan jerseys are kind of weird. Translucent and shiny, almost like they’re silk? Odd.
Joe Pearson
I dig them personally, but I have a strange fashion sense.
USA 0-0 Japan, top 1st inning
Nolan Arenado is up next with a runner on second and two outs. He grounds out to first and that’s that in the top of the first. Japan’s offense will get its first turn at-bat next.
USA 0-0 Japan, top 1st inning
Paul Goldschmidt, who has been absolutely on fire this tournament, is up next. He falls behind 0-2 and then strikes out swinging on a changeup. Two down.
USA 0-0 Japan, top 1st inning
Mike Trout is up next. He swings and misses at the first pitch. He then floats one into right field that just drops, he manages to just outrun it for a double.
First pitch
USA 0-0 Japan, top 1st inning
Shota Imanaga’s first pitch to Mookie Betts is just on the edge for a called strike and then gets him to fly out for the first out.
Okay, so I wasn’t mistaken: it was thought that Yu Darvish would pitch today and instead it’s Shota Imanaga. I had written my prediction beforehand giving Japan the edge in starting pitching because of Darvish but, as Ken Rosenthal points out, these US hitters have seen Darvish a lot and this might actually give Japan the edge in the early innings by having a talented pitcher who is more of an unknown quality.
As always, we’ll see.
The broadcasters are speculating on whether Ohtani would be available to pitch out of the bullpen at some point during this game. While it would be an amazing thing to watch, it strikes me as a potentially risky gambit.
However, this is a championship game and a title is on the line, so one imagines that no options are fully off the table.
In honor of this momentous occasion let us all celebrate the greatest Tweet ever made about the Angels, the reason Tungsten Arm O’Doyle trends on Twitter every time the Angels lose a winnable game. (Which is a lot.)
every time I see an Angels highlight it's like "Mike Trout hit three homes runs and raised his average to .528 while Shohei Ohtani did something that hasn't been done since 'Tungsten Arm' O'Doyle of the 1921 Akron Groomsmen, as the Tigers defeated the Angels 8-3"
— ℳatt (@matttomic) May 18, 2021
imagine getting destroyed by A-Rod https://t.co/6RX45Ry6IZ
— hiya'd and papaya'd (@rarianomivera) March 21, 2023
We’re getting both national anthems! I love this, even if “The Star Spangled Banner” always suffers in comparison.
Both teams’ rosters are out on the field now. It looks like we’re having some pregame ceremonies, as befits a championship game.
Updated
Mike Trout is extremely happy to be playing in meaningful games.
"I already told them I am doing the next one. I am already in... Whatever they want, I'm in."@MikeTrout verbally commits to playing in the 2026 WBC 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/jOVbGMlz46
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 21, 2023
Pregame programming: Okay, so instead of watching whatever Fox Sports 1 is doing, I am watching a “Castle” rerun BUT it is actually a “Castle” episode that is about Cuban baseball players so it is technically somewhat connected to international baseball. Plus, Joe Torre made a cameo appearance, so I feel like this is technically work-related.
Predictions
This will be a tricky game to predict beforehand. The United States has a more formidable offensive lineup, as we saw when it pulverized Cuban pitching on Sunday, but one has to think that this Japan team is going to put up a stronger effort. I do not think I will be complaining that there will be no “mercy rule” in play like I did last time around.
Ultimately, if the US offense finds the weak link in Japan’s bullpen, they could put up a crooked number that tilts their game in their favor. I’m saying the final will be something like USA 7-5 Japan.
Have thoughts of your own? Just send them here, either to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com or to @HunterFelt and we’ll post them here for all to see. If you happen to nail the results, that’s major bragging rights in your favor so keep that in mind.
Updated
Randy Arozarena
While Mexico has been eliminated from the WBC, it shouldn’t be ignored what a great tournament Randy Arozarena had while they were playing. This catch during yesterday’s Mexico-Japan game might be one of the coolest things you’ll ever see in baseball.
It’s hard to describe what Randy Arozarena has done these past couple weeks pic.twitter.com/fEYZIk2ier
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) March 21, 2023
Japan starting lineup
1. Lars Nootbaar, CF
2. Kensuke Kondoh, RF
3. Shohei Ohtani, DH
4. Masataka Yoshida, LF
5. Munetaka Murakami, 3B
6. Kazuma Okamoto, 1B
7. Tetsuto Yamada, 2B
8. Sosuke Genda, SS
9. Yuhei Nakamura, C
Starting pitcher: Shota Imanaga
USA starting lineup
Unsurprisingly, the hot-hitting Trea Turner has been moved up the order for the US.
1. Mookie Betts, RF
2. Mike Trout, CF
3. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
4. Nolan Areando, 3B
5. Kyle Schwarber, DH
6. Trea Turner, SS
7. J.T. Realmuto, C
8. Cedric Mullins, LF
9. Tim Anderson, 2B
Starting pitcher: Merill Kelly
Updated
Preamble
So much for those who dismissed the World Baseball Classic as exhibition games, the 2023 WBC might end up being remembered as the tournament when it officially became baseball’s World Cup. Yesterday’s semi-final match between Japan and Mexico was a back-and-forth affair that ended with a dramatic walk-off victory courtesy of Japan’s Munetaka Murakami. It was as competitive and meaningful of a baseball game as you will ever see.
So now Japan will face a USA team that is taking the WBC seriously. If the mercy rule were still in effect in these knockout stages, the US would have made quick work of Cuba in their semi-final matchup on Sunday, demolishing them 14-2. Now, they will face a tougher opponent in this deep Japanese roster.
The main storyline from an MLB perspective is that baseball fans finally get to see the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani together playing in a big game. Ironically, they won’t be on the same team, as Trout is the captain on the US side and two-way phenomenon Ohtani is hoping to lead Team Japan to a championship. Still, it’s a tantalizing look at what could have been if the Angels organization were at all capable of putting together a competent team around its two stars.
Even if you haven’t been following the WBC until now, this is a perfect opportunity to jump aboard and see which of these two will capture global bragging rights: the country that invented the game or the one that adopted the sport and embraced it with the passion of a convert. You can follow along with us here, and perhaps even send us your thoughts, either via email (to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com) or via Twitter (to @HunterFelt). We’ll include them throughout today’s live blog.
It’s the USA vs Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic final featuring the United States v Japan at Miami’s LoanDepot Park. The game will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 at 7:00 pm EST, but this blog will be back before then with starting lineups, predictions and other such stuff before then.
Hunter will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look back at Japan’s stunning come-from-behind win over Cuba on Monday night to book their spot in tonight’s final.
