Shohei Ohtani starred as defending champion Japan cruised to a 13-0 victory over Taiwan in their World Baseball Classic opener. Ohtani’s performance included a go-ahead grand slam and an RBI single during a 10-run second inning. The game, held at the Tokyo Dome, concluded after seven innings due to a tournament mercy rule.
Ohtani’s Offensive Explosion
Ohtani began the game with a double on the very first pitch. He later hit a grand slam to right field off a low, outside curveball from Hao-Chun Cheng. The drive travelled 368 feet. Ohtani was a triple short of a cycle. However, Nien-Ting Wu made a leaping catch at first base in the fourth to deny him.
Taiwan’s Struggles
Taiwan struggled to generate offense against Japan’s pitching. Yu Chang managed the only hit for Taiwan, a leadoff single in the sixth inning off Koki Kitayama.
Other Key Plays
Kazuma Okamoto contributed with an RBI single in a three-run third inning against Tzu-Chen Sha. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, last season’s World Series MVP, started for Japan, pitching 2⅔ scoreless innings and walking three. Shoma Fujihira relieved Yamamoto with the bases loaded and struck out An-Ko Lin.
Japan were the visiting team.