The Strikeout From Heaven

03/22/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

Shohei Ohtani Strikes Out Angels Teammate Mike Trout to Clinch Title for Japan (3-2) in World Baseball Classic

A heavenly ending! Hollywood couldn’t have written a better script for the finish to a wild two weeks in the World Baseball Classic. Team USA and Team Japan squared off in the finals last night in front of a sellout crowd in Miami, and a nail-biter came down to a head-to-head between Angels teammates as the sports world stood still…

 

The WBC Finals: Trea Turner (USA) and Munetaka Murakami (JAPAN) traded home runs in the third before Japan took a 3-1 in the 8th. Kyle Schwarber brought Team USA back to within one thanks to a solo shot. One inning later, the epic finale we were all waiting for finally came. Down 3-2 in the 9th with a full count and two outs. Mike Trout at the plate. Shohei Ohtani on the mound. And Ohtani delivered a breaking ball punch-out to give Japan their third WBC title and an undefeated run in 2023.

 

Whether your country won or lost, the game of baseball got a new energy boost in its spring preseason. Congratulations to Japan, the 2023 World Baseball Classic champs! The MLB’s Opening Day is just eight days away.

 

Watch: Japan Beats USA (3-2) in WBC Final

 

Additional Storylines

CBS Sports: Ohtani Delivers Japan’s Storybook Ending in WBC Final

ESPN: What An Ending! Takeaways From an Epic World Baseball Classic

 

Photo: Daniel Shirey / Getty Images