World Baseball Classic: Japan's Offense Erupts in 8th Against Czech Republic

Samurai Japan's offense erupted for nine runs in the eighth inning en route to a 9-0 victory over the Czech Republic in the World Baseball Classic Pool C's final game on Tuesday, March 10.

Kenya Wakatsuki (Orix Buffaloes) smacked a double down the right-field line to break a scoreless tie. Moments later, Ukyo Shuto (Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks) crushed a three-run home run to right-center off reliever Michal Kovala.

With two outs, pinch hitter Shugo Maki (Yokohama DeNA BayStars) walked with the bases loaded. And Yukei Nakamura scored to increase the lead to 5-0 at Tokyo Dome.

Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger Munetaka Murakami, who signed an offseason contract with MLB's Chicago White Sox, followed with a towering grand slam to center off reliever Ryan Johnson to make it 9-0.

"It felt really good," Murakami said of his bases-clearing blast, according to Kyodo News. "We were struggling to score runs, and then my turn came once we were scoring, so I was glad I was able to hit it."

Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata was pleased that Murakami exhibited his power-hitting ability late in the game. It was the 2022 Central League Triple Crown winner's first homer of the 2026 WBC.

"I was hoping [Murakami] would hit a good one," Ibata said in the postgame news conference. "So hopefully this will be a good catalyst."

Looking ahead to the WBC quarterfinals and beyond, "hitting for power will naturally be key," Ibata commented.

Japan travels to Florida to participate in the WBC quarterfinals against either the Dominican Republic or Venezuela on Saturday, March 14 (10 AM JST on Sunday) in Miami.

A Pitchers' Duel at Tokyo Dome

Both starting pitchers had strong performances to set the tone for their respective teams.

Japan's Hiroto Takahashi, a 23-year-old hurler for the Chunichi Dragons, worked 4⅔ solid innings and limited the Czech Republic to two hits. He struck out five and walked two in a 62-pitch outing.

"From here on, one loss means elimination," Takahashi said after the game. "I expect the games to be intense, but we'll stay focused until the end and unite to aim for the championship."

Czech starter Ondrej Satoria, an electrician by trade, also pitched 4⅔ scoreless innings. The 29-year-old right-hander, making his final appearance for the national team (more on that below), scattered six hits and fanned three batters.

Satoria left the field after 67 pitches (45 strikes).

After Satoria's departure from the game, Japan's Teruaki Sato faced Kovala and lined out to shortstop Vojtech Mensik to end the fifth.

Reigning Champion vs Quintessential Underdog

Japan had already clinched first place in Pool C after winning its first three games of the WBC. The reigning tournament champion beat Taiwan 13-0 on March 6, followed by an 8-6 triumph over South Korea the next day and a 4-3 decision against Australia on March 8.

Conversely, the Czech Republic entered its final WBC contest with a 0-3 record. The team's roster features players who work full-time jobs and are recognized as amateur baseball players.

But the Czech squad takes great pride in its development and competitive spirit, according to manager Pavel Chadim, who is a neurosurgeon.

"We're not baseball tourists," Chadim told a postgame news conference, echoing remarks he made before the game in another media gathering.

"I believe we showed it in this game," he added.

Impactful defensive plays were a part of the Czech Republic's strong effort.

For example, in the fourth inning, Japan had runners on first and second with one out. Kaito Kozono hit a tapper to Satoria, who threw the ball to veteran catcher Martin Cervenka, who applied the tag on Masataka Yoshida.

The pitcher, of course, had the option of throwing to first for the out. But keeping Japan off the scoreboard was, first and foremost on his mind.

Earlier in the game, another heads-up defensive play was one of the Czechs' big highlights of the night.

After Kozono's one-out single, Satoria struck out Shuto on a full-count changeup, and Cervenka threw a bullet to Mensik, who thwarted Kozono's stolen-base attempt.

Heading into the home half of the eighth, neither team had scored.

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Japan's Bullpen Stifles Czech Lineup

After Takahashi left the game, southpaw Hiroya Miyagi pitched 1⅓ scoreless innings. Another left-hander, Yumeto Kanemaru, worked the seventh and eighth, and didn't allow a hit. Kanemaru, a Chunichi Dragons rookie in 2025, struck out five batters and earned the win.

In the ninth, Koki Kitayama closed out the game for Samurai Japan, retiring the side in order on strikeouts.

Collectively, Japan's four pitchers held the Czech Republic to two hits, issued one walk and had 14 strikeouts. Center fielder Marek Chlup had the Czechs' first hit in the first inning, and second baseman Terrin Vavra, the leadoff hitter, got the other hit in the third.

Satoria's Last Appearance for the National Team

The timing and location of Satoria's retirement, which he officially announced before Tuesday's game, was linked to a special feat for him at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Three years ago — on March 11, to be precise — the Czech pitcher struck out Shohei Ohtani on three pitches in the third inning. Satoria was the Czech starter in that game, which Japan won 10-2.

On Tuesday night, several Samurai Japan players were given the night off, including Ohtani, Sosuke Genda and Seiya Suzuki. Ibata opted to start several players who were on the bench for Japan's first three games of the tournament.

"I'm proud that I can say I achieved everything that I wanted," Satoria was quoted as saying by The Athletic. "I will finish my career here, where I made myself famous."

After the game, Satoria tipped his cap to the crowd of 42,000-plus spectators, who showered him with enthusiastic applause.

Moreover, Tokyo Dome's English-language public-address announcer acknowledged Satoria's retirement, urging the crowd to congratulate him for "a great career."

What was Satoria's reaction?

"Thank you so much for coming," he told a news conference about an hour later. "I can say I really didn't expect something like that," he added with a laugh.

Satoria called it "my last dance" and said it made him really happy." He described the experience on Tuesday as "like the best ending for me for what I could envision because playing against Samurai Japan is always special, and always special here in Tokyo Dome. I really love this stadium because it's got a really nice aura here."