Ohtani stands out on the mound as Japan beats China

(Tokyo) Shohei Ohtani allowed one hit in four innings on the mound, had five strikeouts and was the breakout pitcher in Japan’s 8-1 World Baseball Classic Group B win Thursday at the Tokyo Dome.

Ohtani also hit a double good for two into the left field fence in the fourth inning, giving the Japanese team a 3–0 lead.

The 41,616 spectators who showed up to the stadium witnessed what they expected to see: Ohtani shooting, shooting and not disappointing.

The duel was close until the Japanese exploded for four runs in the eighth inning.

Australia 8 – South Korea 7

Robbie Perkins hit one of his team’s three home runs to help Australia beat South Korea 8-7 in another Group B game.

Leading 5-4 in the first half of the eighth inning, the Australians put the duel out of reach when Perkins hit a long ball with two teammates on the trails.

Australia took a 2–0 lead in the first half of the fifth inning, but South Korea rallied with a three-run push on their next inning to bat. Those three runs were the result of a home run by Euiji Yang.

South Korea added a run in the sixth, but their rivals responded by scoring three times in the seventh thanks to a home run by Robbie Glendinning.

Helped by five walks and a batted out, the South Koreans scored three runs in the eighth to make it 8–7 in Australia’s favour. However, they failed to score the point that would allow them to even the score.

Netherlands 3 – Panama 1

In Taiwan, the Netherlands claimed their second win in as many Group A matches on Thursday, beating Panama 3-1

Xander Bogaerts hit a solo home run in the third inning to give the Dutch team the lead. Two rounds later, his teammate Jurickson Profar did the same.

An Erasmo Caballero single allowed Panama to cut the Netherlands’ lead, but a poor shot by top scorer Alberto Baldonado allowed Bogaerts to cross the plate in the eighth inning.

On Wednesday, the Netherlands opened the tournament with a 4-2 victory over Cuba.

Panama also won its opening game, 12–7 against Chinese Taipei.

Canada loses to the Cubs

Canada participates in the tournament in Group C, which also includes the United States, Mexico, Great Britain and Colombia. The Canadian team will play its first game of the tournament against Great Britain on Sunday in Phoenix.

Meanwhile, Canada played a preseason game against the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday afternoon and lost 11–7.

In the loss, Toronto Blue Jays forward Damiano Palmegiani had two hits in as many plate visits, including a three-run home run in the ninth inning.

Canada is scheduled to play another preseason game on Thursday against the Seattle Mariners.