Samurai Japan’s Quest for Back-to-Back WBC Titles Ends at Quarterfinal Stage in 5-8 Loss to Venezuela

By Takuya Okahana / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

18:10 JST, March 16, 2026

MIAMI — Samurai Japan’s quest for a back-to-back World Baseball Classic title ended Saturday, after Venezuela came from behind to win their quarterfinal match-up 8-5.

It is the first time for Japan – winners of the inaugural 2006 tournament, as well as the 2009 and 2023 editions – to fail to advance to the semifinals in the six WBC campaigns.

Wilyer Abreu’s three-run homer deep over the right wall in the sixth off Hiromi Ito, Samurai Japan’s fourth pitcher of the night, put Venezuela up 7-5. Japan had been up 5-2 before Maikel Garcia’s two-run homer in the fifth.

Hanshin Tigers outfielder Shota Morishita hit a three-run homer in the third. He had been substituted into the game after Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki was injured in the first inning.

Both teams started the game with lead-off home runs. Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani’s solo shot over the centerfield canceled out Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr.’s homer off starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

In the third inning, Hanshin Tigers infielder Teruaki Sato hit a one-run double to again tie the game 2-2.

Following Morishita’s three-run play, Samurai Japan failed to score, managing just three hits for the rest of the game.

The result was sealed when Ohtani ended his WBC campaign with a fly out to shortstop.

“Anything short of winning the championship is failure,” Ohtani said after the game. “I’m so disappointed that it ended up like this.”

Ibata thankful to players

By Hirokazu Hayashi / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

MIAMI — Following Samurai Japan’s exit from the World Baseball Classic in Miami on Saturday, skipper Hirokazu Ibata has expressed his intention to step down as Japan manager after the current tournament wraps up.

“I sent them to the mound with confidence,” Ibata said, paying consideration to the pitchers who appeared in the quarterfinal against Venezuela. “They did a fine job.”

Ibata was seen watching players from a position between third and shortstop during the pre-game practice. He had played under legendary managers such as Senichi Hoshino, Hiromitsu Ochiai and Tatsunori Hara. When he was named to steer Samurai Japan, Ibata decided to “adopt good aspects of those managers.” And he noticed the three had one thing in common, which was observing their players meticulously.

As a player, Ibata mostly played shortstop. He therefore feels comfortable watching the players from that position, which became his routine during practice sessions.

One reason for him observing the players is to protect them. If he noticed something strange about a player’s facial expression or movement, Ibata would stop that player practicing.

“Players, including myself [while an active player], tend to push themselves over the limit,” Ibata said. “We should notice what players do not say.” When pitchers practice for conditioning on an off day, Ibata would show up even when he was tired.

The manager that most influenced Ibata was the late Shigeo Nagashima. Nagashima and Ibata competed together as skipper and player for Samurai Japan in the qualifying games for the 2004 Athens Olympics. “He was a man serious about winning,” Ibata said of Nagashima, who died in June last year.

When Ibata took over as manager of Samurai Japan in October 2023 from Hideki Kuriyama, Nagashima encouraged him over the phone, “Build a new Japan in your own style.”

During the farewell ceremony for Nagashima in November, Ibata expressed his determination, “I want to show the fans good games during the WBC, focusing on winning.”