February 17, 2026; Lee County, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Masataka Yoshida (7) poses at media day held at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Image Masataka Yoshida hit a two-run home run with two outs in the seventh inning as Japan beat Australia 4-3 in billiards play at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in Tokyo on Sunday to win Group C.
Yoshida was able to come to the plate in the inning after Australian pitcher Jon Kennedy failed to complete a double play after receiving a throw to first base from shortstop Jarryd Dale. The Boston Red Sox slugger made Kennedy pay for his mistake when he placed his 0-1 slider to right-center field to give Japan a 2-1 lead.
Teruaki Sato and Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki provided insurance in the eighth inning, with the former hitting an RBI double and the latter drawing a bases-loaded walk.
Japan, with only 5 hits and 12 walks, won 3-0 in the round robin.
Australia’s Alex Hall and Rickson Winggrove each hit solo home runs in the 9th inning (2-1), but they can advance to the quarterfinals if they defeat Korea on the 23rd (1-2).
The top two teams from each of the four pools advance to the quarterfinals, where Miami and Houston will face off. The semifinals on March 15th and 16th and the finals on March 17th will be held in Miami.
Australia’s Aaron Whitefield had three of the team’s eight hits in the sixth inning and scored on a throwing error.
Whitefield, who previously played for the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Angels, hit a double to right field with one out and attempted to steal third base. Catcher Kenya Wakatsuki’s throw landed well inside the third base line and into left field, allowing Whitfield to sprint home.
Japan threatened a scoreless tie against Shohei Ohtani with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning. However, Australian catcher Robbie Perkins cleverly caught Shugo Maki, who was leaning too far at second base, and fired a strike to Dale to end the inning.
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