Ohtani, Japan Thrill Fans by Reaching WBC Final vs. USA With Walk-Off Win Over Mexico
Mar 21, 2023
MIAMI, FL - MARCH 20: Masataka Yoshida #34 of Team Japan is greeted at home plate by teammate Shohei Ohtani #16 after hitting a three-run home run in the eighth inning during the 2023 World Baseball Classic Semifinal game between Team Mexico and Team Japan at loanDepot Park on Monday, March 20, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Throughout Monday's 2023 World Baseball Classic semifinal game between Mexico and Japan, it looked like Mexico was well on its way to an appearance in the championship game, which would've set up a rematch against Team USA.
However, Japan pulled off a 6-5 victory on a walk-off two-run double by Munetaka Murakami that scored Ukyo Shuto and Shohei Ohtani. The win pits arguably the two best teams in the tournament against one another in Tuesday's championship game.
Ohtani will see his Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout across the diamond when Japan faces Team USA. Japanese starting pitcher Yu Darvish will face many of the batters he faces as the ace of the San Diego Padres staff.
The last-second win and the impending matchup between Team USA and Japan excited fans on Twitter:
