Ohtani leads Japan over Italy 9-3, into WBC semifinals
Shohei Ohtani of Japan throws during the fifth inning of the quarterfinal game between Italy and Japan at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Toru Hanai)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Toru Hanai]
TOKYO (AP) — Shohei Ohtani pitched shutout ball into the fifth inning and sparked a four-run third with a bunt single, leading Japan over Italy 9-3 and into its fifth straight World Baseball Classic semifinal. Boston’s Masataka Yoshida homered and drove in the go-ahead run with a grounder, giving him a tournament-leading 10 RBIs. Kazuma Okamoto hit a three-run homer for Japan, which has outscored opponents 47-11 in five games. Japan travels to Miami for a semifinal on Monday against Puerto Rico or Mexico. Cuba plays the other semifinal against the United States or Venezuela.
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Japanese players celebrate after defeating Italy in the quarterfinal game between Italy and Japan at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Eugene Hoshiko
Members of team Italy watch in the dugout during the ninth inning of the quarterfinal game between Italy and Japan at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Toru Hanai)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Toru Hanai
Shohei Ohtani of Japan gestures after finishing the quarterfinal game between Italy and Japan at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Eugene Hoshiko