Shohei Ohtani homered again and Japan dug out of an early hole to outlast South Korea for an 8-6 win, improving to 2-0 in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Korea jumped on Japan starter Yusei Kikuchi for three runs in the top of the first on four hits,

Australia's attempt at a massive upset at the WBC came up short, thanks in large part to Masataka Yoshida's two-run home run in the seventh inning.

TOKYO (AP) — This is the Shohei Ohtani effect. Ohtani put on a giant show in batting practice hours before he hit a grand slam in the second inning — in the first he doubled on the first pitch of the game but didn’t score — as Japan hammered Taiwan 13-0 in Pool C at the World Baseball Classic.

Shohei Ohtani has thrilled Japan fans by hitting a grand slam in the second inning at the World Baseball Classic.

Japan's World Baseball Classic title defense got off to a rousing start at the Tokyo Dome.

This would align with the Dodgers' dominance of the Japanese market.

TOKYO — Defending champion Japan hit four home runs — two by Chicago Cubs slugger Seiya Suzuki — to beat South Korea 8-6 on Saturday and stay undefeated in Pool C of the World Baseball Classic. Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida also homered for Japan.

The Samurai Japan bench erupted. Shohei Ohtani broke into laughter. Some of the players around him started preparing their own bowls of make-believe tea. For players who never played with or against Shohei Ohtani in Japan’s domestic league,

Shohei Ohtani is one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and he is honoring one of the pro wrestling GOATs at the WBC.

In Samurai Japan’s first game of this World Baseball Classic, Yoshinobu Yamamoto was unsettled by a formidable offense. His own. Japan scored 10 runs in the second inning of its 13-0 mercy-rule victory (Due to early termination rules in the WBC,