Japan found itself down 5-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning of Monday night’s World Baseball Classic semifinal in Miami.
Japan needed to come up with a rally against Mexico closer Giovanny Gallegos in order to advance to the championship game against the United States.
That’s when Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani got things going. He smoked a lead-off double, showing a ton of excitement in the process, as fans went wild inside LoanDepot Park.
After Masataka Yoshida drew a walk, reigning Nippon Professional Baseball Triple Crown Winner Munetaka Murakami took to the plate. He nailed a double off the left-center field wall, plating both Ohtani and Yoshida for a dramatic walk off win for Japan and a date with Team USA in Tuesday’s championship game.
Talk about an absolutely epic end to what was a back-and-forth affair between Mexico and Japan.
Luis Urías opened things up for Mexico with a three-run home run in the fourth inning. Japan came right back in the bottom of the seventh as Yoshida belted a three-run homer of his own.
Mexico would go up 5-3 in the top of the eighth before Hotaka Yamakawa plated a run for Japan with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth.
That set up the stunning bottom of the ninth in which Japan scored two runs without recording an out to advance to the championship game.
There’s going to be several storylines for Tuesday’ outing against the United States. Including the aforementioned Ohtani likely taking to the bump to face Angels teammate Mike Trout.
Let’s get craxy.