The Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani hit a two-run double on the plate and tossed 4 scoreless innings to assist Japan win towards China at Thursday’s World Baseball Basic (WBC) opening.
Tens of 1000’s of spectators cheered for Ohtani, 28, on the Tokyo Dome in his first-ever baseball look in Japan since signing with the Angels in 2017.
Welcome to the Sho! Ohtani with a 2-run double and Japan now leads 3-0!
📺: FS1 and the FOX Sports activities App pic.twitter.com/YWKOVGs8HP
— FOX Sports activities: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 9, 2023
The MLB two-way famous person pulled off a stellar efficiency, main Japan to win towards China with a closing rating of 8-1.
Taking part in on the mound, Ohtani threw 4 scoreless innings towards China, placing out 5 of the 13 Chinese language batters he confronted within the course of. China’s Yang Jin was the one batter who managed to hit one among Ohtani’s 49 pitches in the course of the fourth inning.
As a hitter, Ohtani hit a pitch from Weiyi Wang off the wall within the left-center area that allowed his fellow teammates Kensuke Kondoh and Lars Nootbaar to attain, giving Japan a lead of 3-0 by the fourth inning.
5 different hitters from the Samurai Japan group drove in at the very least a run, with Nootbaar going 2 for 4 with two walks from the leadoff spot. The Japanese group additionally scored a house run in the course of the seventh inning, courtesy of Maki Shugo.
After the sport, Ohtani praised his group whereas speaking to reporters.
“It was an ideal recreation received with a group effort,” Ohtani mentioned. “I wish to preserve this momentum going.”
Hideki Kuriyama, supervisor of the Japanese group, believes that Ohtani nonetheless carried out properly regardless of not being in the very best form for the latest recreation.
“I’m glad we received as a result of worldwide video games are by no means straightforward,” Kuriyama mentioned. “His situation will not be that good however he saved us within the recreation.”
Japan is about to face South Korea on the WBC on Friday.
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