Samurai Japan Advance to WBC Q’finals as Top Pool B Team

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Shohei Ohtani hits a 3-run home run during their Pool B game at the World Baseball Classic at the Tokyo Dome on Sunday.

Shohei Ohtani’s “big fly” led the way as Samurai Japan moved into the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals as the top team from Pool B with a 7-1 victory over Australia to wrap up group action at Tokyo Dome on Sunday.

Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto got the start for Japan, which swept its four games in pool play, and allowed just one hit and struck out eight over four innings.

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitches during their Pool B game at the World Baseball Classic at the Tokyo Dome on Sunday.

Los Angeles Angels slugger Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run home run in the first inning and American-born Lars Nootbaar also contributed to earing the victory with an RBI single in the second inning.

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Lars Nootbaar gets a hit in the 2nd inning during their Pool B game at the World Baseball Classic at the Tokyo Dome on Sunday.