Japan defeated Mexico 6-5 on Monday night to advance to the final of the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In Tuesday’s championship, Japan now plays the United States, who knocked out Cuba in the other semifinal on Sunday. Japan is the only multiple champion in WBC history, but the United States could join them with a win.
Japanese starter Roki Sasaki and Mexican starter Patrick Sandoval traded zeros in the first three innings. It wasn’t until the fourth that anyone scored, and that was on a triple home run by Mexico’s Luis Urías. Just look:
Japan would threaten in the fifth and sixth, but Mexico would keep them off the board behind two good catches from Randy Arozarena, including this web gem:
Japan would level the game at the end of game seven when Masataka Yoshida launched a three-run shot of his own against reliever JoJo Romero to 1) become the WBC singles tournament lead in runs batted and 2) close the game by 3 end. 3:
Mexico replied right away. Arozarena and Alex Verdugo scored back-to-back doubles at the top of eighth and took back the lead:
Japan would get a runback on a sacrificial fly from Hotaka Yamakawa late in game eight, reducing the lead to 5-4. Mexico’s closer Giovanny Gallegos struck the heart of the order in ninth place and had a chance to secure victory. Instead, he handed Shohei Ohtani a lead-off double, a walk to Masataka Yoshida, and a walk-off double to Munetaka Murakami:
Here are three more things to know about Japan’s victory.
1. Sasaki impressed
As we discovered while participating in the tournament, young Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki stands out as one of the most exciting players in the world not currently part of MLB. He confirmed the feeling on Tuesday.
Sasaki pitched four innings and gave up three runs with five hits and no walks. He knocked out three of the 16 batters he faced. He also showed off elite stuff, including a fastball that hit a top speed of 102 mph. He averaged 95 mph on his pitches and generated 12 puffs on 33 swings against him.
Sasaki, 21, burst onto the global stage last April when he hit 19 as part of the first perfect game in Nippon Professional Baseball in almost 30 years. Sasaki was replaced by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, NPB’s reigning MVP and Cy Young equivalent winner. Yamamoto would allow the eventual go-ahead runs and give up a pair in 3 1/3 innings of work.
Newcomers Atsuki Yuasa and Taisei Ota then held Mexico off the board for 1 2/3 innings, giving the Japanese lineup a chance to close the gap. The Japanese lineup took full advantage of ninth place.
2. Sandoval steals the show
Sasaki might have been the bigger name and showed the louder stuff, but Mexican southpaw Patrick Sandoval topped him in the most important category: the Runs Allowed column.
Sandoval threw 4 ⅓ innings scoreless, allowing four hits and a walk. He knocked out six of the 17 batters he faced. According to Statcast, he also produced seven puffs on 30 swings, four of which came on his slide.
Astro’s right-back José Urquidy replaced Sandoval. He worked his way out of trouble within 2 1/3 innings but was charged with a run as part of Romero’s aforementioned legal home run. Jesus Cruz later checked in and struggled with his command, but Gerardo Reyes ended an eighth-inning threat by defeating Kensuke Kondoh. Unfortunately, Gallegos couldn’t keep his end of the bargain.
3. Closing Clause
Team USA will once again take on Japan in the WBC finals on Tuesday night. The first pitch takes place around 7:00 p.m. ET, and the winner walks away with hardware. The Americans won the 2017 edition while Team Japan won the 2006 and 2009 editions. Merrill Kelly and Yu Darvish are expected to start for their respective teams.
You can relive our live coverage of Monday’s game below.