Japan and the United States went up against one another in the 2023 World Baseball Classic Championship Game Tuesday evening in Miami.
It was the culmination of the first World Baseball Classic since 2017 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also represented the end of a tournament that could lead to renewed interest in the brand.
Drama took hold throughout the WBC. That was no different from Miami as Japan and the United States took on one another.
Japan took a 3-2 lead heading into the ninth inning with Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani looking to close things out. In something that can’t be dreamed up, Ohtani would strikeout his Angels teammate in Mike Trout to end the game and give Japan its third ever World Baseball Classic title.
Here are some of the top highlights from one the most-dramatic international baseball games ever.
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United States goes on top with Trea Turner home run
It didn’t take Team USA too long to excite the home fans with this Philadelphia Phillies star taking Japan pitcher Shōta Imanaga deep in the second inning to give the United States a 1-0 lead. The ball was absolutely smoked.
This represented Turner’s fifth home run of the World Baseball Classic, and it was the loudest yet. It also comes mere months after he inked a whopping 11-year, $300 million contract with the Phillies.
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Munetaka Murakami answers for Japan
Considered one of the greatest talents in Japanese baseball history, Munetaka Murakami is set to join MLB some time in 2026. But he was on full display for his national team in the bottom of the second Tuesday night.
That included tying the game up at one with a second deck shot off United States starter Merrill Kelly. It was another mammoth shot.
Within just a few batters, Japan knocked Kelly out of the game. Aaron Loup ended up coming into the game with the bases loaded and one out. Loup calmed things down a bit, yielding one run on a Lars Nootbaar groundout before preserving a 2-1 deficit heading into the third.
Japan took a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on a homer from infielder Kazuma Okamoto against Colorado Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland.
Unfortunately for the United States, its star-laden lineup just couldn’t come through when it counted the most. Mike Trout followed a strikeout with two on in the third inning by also striking out with one on in the fifth and U.S. down 3-1. It was a sign of things to come.
For Trout, this represented his first real opportunity to prove that the former American League MVP can come through when it matters the most. Over the course of his career with the Los Angeles Angels, Trout has appeared in a mere three playoff games.
As Trout teammate and Japan star Shohei Ohtani made his way to the bullpen while showing of his otherworldly athleticism, the United States was looking to mount a comeback.
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Kyle Schwarber gets United State closer with an absolute blast off Yu Darvish
Six outs from clinching Japan’s first World Baseball Classic Championship since 2009, reigning National League home run champion Kyle Schwarber woke up the crowd big time with a 436-foot blast.
The United States wouldn’t get any closer in the eighth as Darvish retired two consecutive batters following a Trea Turner single. It went to the top of the ninth with Japan up 3-2.
Shohei Ohtani strikes out Mike Trout, sends Japan to the title
No one could have imagined what would happen in Miami as the World Baseball Championship came to a conclusion Tuesday night. Heck, not even Terence Mann could have dreamed this up (yeah, I went there).
Reigning National League batting champion Jeff McNeil opened the ninth with a walk off Ohtani. That set the stage for Mookie Betts to do his thing. Unfortunately, he hit into a tailor-made 4-6-3 double play to bring up Mike Trout with two outs against his Angels teammate.
The count went to 3-2 before Ohtani got Trout swinging with an absolutely filthy pitch to end the game and give Japan its third World Baseball Classic championship.
What an absolutely spectacular end to one of the most drama-filled games in international baseball history. What an epic conclusion to a WBC that will now likely lead to even more interest in this tournament once 2026 comes calling.
Japan stood above the rest of the world. The United States came close to unseating one of the most dynamic teams in baseball history. And in the end, it came down to two teammates who will now share a dugout during the 2023 MLB season in Southern California.
Sometimes, the unexpected floors us. This was one of those times.