Japan has won the World Baseball Classic (WBC) for the third time. In the final, the Japanese baseball players were too strong for the United States (3-2). The US won the previous edition of the prestigious WBC in 2017, the only baseball tournament in which the professionals from the Major League also participate.
Homeruns by Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto, among others, helped Japan take the lead. In the ninth inning, superstar Shohei Ohtani swept away the victory from the mound. With some fastballs, the Japanese pitcher threw out US-captain Mike Trout, also his teammate with the Los Angeles Angels. Japan also won the first two editions of the WBC, in 2006 and 2009. In 2013, the Dominican Republic won.
Ohtani was named MVP, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Before the game against the Americans, he also played an important role by putting his team on edge with a speech. “I told them to stop and admire the American team. Of course the team is all big names and superstars. All the Japanese guys know them. But I didn’t want them to become passive. I said show respect, but stay aggressive and confident.”
The Americans opened the score in the stadium of MLB club Miami Marlins, but the Japanese came back strong afterwards. Ohtani was overjoyed with the overall victory. “This is the best tournament for me. I love the atmosphere and everything that goes with it.”
The Dutch kingdom team started the WBC with two wins, but then lost twice and got stuck in the group stage. The Orange reached the semi-finals in 2013 and 2017.
Source: ANP
