Masataka Yoshida belted a two-run homer with two outs in the seventh inning, helping defending champion Japan clinch Group C in pool play of the World Baseball Classic with a 4-3 victory over Australia on Sunday in Tokyo.
Yoshida was able to come to the plate in the inning after Australia pitcher Jon Kennedy failed to catch shortstop Jarryd Dale’s throw to first base to complete a double play. The Boston Red Sox slugger made Kennedy pay for the miscue by depositing his 0-1 slider into the seats in right-center field to give Japan a 2-1 lead.
Teruaki Sato and Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki provided insurance in the eighth inning, with the former ripping an RBI double and the latter drawing a bases-loaded walk.
Japan, which mustered just five hits, benefited from 12 walks to improve to 3-0 in round-robin play.
Alex Hall and Rixon Wingrove each launched a solo homer in the ninth inning for Australia (2-1), which still can reach the quarterfinals with a win over Korea (1-2) on Monday.
The top two teams from each of the four pools will advance to the quarterfinals, which will be split between Miami and Houston. The semifinals on March 15 and 16 as well as the final on March 17 will be contested in Miami.
Australia’s Aaron Whitefield collected three of his team’s eight hits and scored a run on a throwing error in the sixth inning.
Whitefield, who previously played for the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Angels, ripped a double to right field with one out and attempted to steal third base. Catcher Kenya Wakatsuki’s throw sailed well inside the third-base line and into left field, allowing Whitefield to scamper home.
Japan was threatening to snap a scoreless tie with Shohei Ohtani at the plate and the bases loaded with two outs in the fourth inning. Australia catcher Robbie Perkins, however, alertly caught Shugo Maki leaning too far off second base and fired a strike to Dale to end the inning.
