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World Baseball Classic: Japan improves to 3-0 with 4-2 win over Australia

· Yahoo Sports

Japan and Australia both came into Sunday’s World Baseball Classic matchup with 2-0 records. Japan has already advanced out of Pool C into the knockout round while Australia needed a win over the Japanese or Korea on Monday to advance.

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That opportunity will have to wait until Monday.

Masataka Yoshida’s 2-run home run in the seventh inning gave Japan the lead after going scoreless for the previous six frames. Japan then added two more runs in the eighth on a pinch-hit RBI double from Teruaki Sato and Seiya Suzuki drawing a bases-loaded walk (after Shohei Ohtani was intentionally walked).

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Australia starting pitcher Connor McDonald kept Japan off the board in his first three innings despite walking three batters and allowing one hit. That included getting Shohei Ohtani to ground out and fly out in his first two at-bats.

Japan threatened to score in the fourth inning after Warwick Saupold took over for McDonald. Kazuma Okamoto drew a leadoff walk, followed by Shugo Maki hitting a one-out single. After Sosuke Genda flied out, Kenya Wakatsuki drew a walk to load the bases for Shohei Ohtani.

However, Maki was picked off second base by Australia catcher Robbie Perkins to end the inning. That left Ohtani at the plate with a 2-2 count and no opportunity to drive a run in.

Australia broke through in the sixth with Aaron Whitefield hitting a leadoff single against Chihiro Sumida. He then stole second base.

With Alex Hall at the plate, Whitefield then attempted to steal third base. Japanese catcher Kenya Wakatsuki’s throw was wide left from third baseman Kazuma Okamoto and Whitefield came in for a 1-0 lead.

This story will be updated with more information.

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