Sports

Shohei Ohtani Belts First WBC Homer as Japan Beats Australia and Improves to 4-0

Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani connected for a towering home run in the first inning that set the pace for Samurai Japan in a 7-1 rout at Tokyo Dome.

Published

2 years ago

March 13, 2023

Jim Armstrong

Japan slugger Shohei Ohtani watches the flight of his three-run home run in the first inning against Australia at the World Baseball Classic on March 12 at Tokyo Dome. (ⒸSANKEI)

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Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer in the first inning on Sunday, March 12 as Japan defeated Australia 7-1 to finish the opening round of the World Baseball Classic with a perfect 4-0 record.

Before another capacity crowd at Tokyo Dome, leadoff hitter Lars Nootbaar drew a walk and Kensuke Kondoh singled on a line drive to right to set the table for designated hitter Ohtani.

The two-way star got a hanging curveball from Australia starter Will Sherriff and blasted it 448 feet (136.5 meters) into the right-field stands, barely missing his own billboard.

WBC — *Shohei Ohtani is congratulated by teammates after his first-inning home run. (ⒸSANKEI)*

"It was great to get a chance right away," Ohtani said. "The hitters before me have done a good job of getting on base and giving me a chance to drive in runs."

The home run was Ohtani's first of the WBC, although he connected for two three-run homers in an exhibition game in Osaka against the Hanshin Tigers on March 6 before the tournament started.

Japan has already clinched a spot in the quarterfinals and will face the runner-up of Pool A, Italy, which has a 2-2 record, at Tokyo Dome on Thursday night at 7 JST. The winner of that game will go to the United States for the final round.