Masataka Yoshida’s late home run sparked a Japan comeback victory over Australia in the World Baseball Classic on Sunday, with Emperor Naruhito making a rare appearance.
The underdog Australians struck first in the sixth inning of group play when outfielder Aaron Whitefield returned home after a throwing error by Japanese catcher Kenya Wakatsuki. But in the seventh, Yoshida hit a two-run shot to right center field. Japan made two more runs in the eighth and held on for the 4-3 victory.
Shohei Ohtani, who had homered in the tournament’s previous two games, failed to make an impact Sunday in front of an adoring crowd at the Tokyo Dome. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar was in prime position to do damage when he came up to bat with the bases loaded in the third inning, but Shugo Maki was intercepted by Australian catcher Robbie Perkins for the third out.
A global sporting spectacle now in its sixth incarnation since it began in 2006, the WBC is a display of national pride in Japan, with the nation consistently fielding its best players and leading all other nations with three championships.
To demonstrate that importance, Emperor Naruhito watched the game from a box above home plate – the first time a sitting Japanese monarch has attended a professional baseball game since 1966, according to the Yomiuri newspaper. He was joined by Empress Masako and Princess Aiko. The emperor turned 66 just a few weeks ago and has focused his attention on remembering the 15th anniversary of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster of March 11, 2011, which killed nearly 20,000 people in northern Japan.
The tournament, which will be held in Tokyo, Puerto Rico, Houston and Miami, brings together 20 national teams competing in round-robin groups before the top two in each group advance to the quarterfinals.
After beating Taiwan and South Korea in Group C, Japan had already secured a ticket to the round of 16 in Miami. Australia can qualify by beating Korea in their final group match.
Samurai Japan are the defending WBC champions after beating the United States in the 2023 final and the two teams are favorites to meet in this year’s final.
