The 2023 World Baseball Classic is nearing an epic conclusion! The penultimate game takes place on Monday, with Mexico meeting Japan in the second semi-final of the tournament.
Mexico previously beat Puerto Rico 5-4, while Japan defeated Italy 9-3. The Mexico-Japan winners meet Team USA in Tuesday’s WBC Championship (7:00 p.m. ET, FS1).
Here are Monday’s top plays from LoanDepot Park in Miami!
WBC: Mexico vs. Japan
FASTball
Roki Sasaki worked a first inning for Japan with a triple win, the first out coming on a 102-mile stoker.
Pitching on display
Patrick Sandoval beat the team en route to a three-pointer in the first inning for Mexico.
No harm done
Mexico had runners in first and second with an out at the head of second, but Sasaki was able to pull off a 6-4-3 doubleplay to get out of the inning.
Mexico strikes first
Rowdy Tellez and Isaac Paredes ended up leading the fourth team with two outs each, and then Luis Urias put Mexico ahead by hitting a three-run home run into left field.
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Luis Urias boosted a three-barrel home run to give Mexico a 3-0 lead at the World Baseball Classic.
Sandoval acts
With runners on the corners and two outs at the bottom of the fourth, Sandoval froze Munetaka Murakami for strike three to get out of the inning.
Not today, Zurg!
It looked like Japan would cut Mexico’s lead to two when Kazuma Okamoto shot a flyball to the left into the bottom of the fifth, but Randy Arozarena rose and stole the wannabe homer.
Stay tuned for updates!
Continue reading:
- Trea Turner, USA, goes deep again, defeating Cuba to advance to the WBC Finals
- World Baseball Classic 2023 odds: how to bet between Cuba and the United States, expert tip
- World Baseball Classic 2023 Odds: How to Bet Japan-Mexico, Expert Tip
- Patrick Mahomes, Justin Turner and others react to Trea Turner’s WBC grand slam
- World Baseball Classic highlights: USA win in thriller at the top of Venezuela
- Trea Turner’s Grand Slam leads the USA ahead of Venezuela to the WBC semifinals
- Highlights of the 2023 World Baseball Classic: USA defeat Cuba 14-2
- How to Watch World Baseball Classic 2023: Finals, TV, Schedule, Dates