Ohtani goes deep to level it up for Japan (0:34)Shohei Ohtani crushes a solo shot to bring Japan level vs. Korea. (0:34)
Associated PressMultiple AuthorsMar 7, 2026, 09:14 AM ET
Japan and Australia are 2-0 in Pool C play and meet Sunday as the two favorites to advance to the quarterfinals. In Sunday’s other game, Korea (1-1) faces Chinese Taipei (1-2).
Korea took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning off starter Yusei Kikuchi with consecutive singles by Do Yeong Kim, Jahmai Jones and Jung Hoo Lee and a two-run double by Bo Gyeong Moon.
Japan broke through in the seventh to lead 8-5. Young Kyu Kim, who entered in relief earlier in the inning, walked Suzuki with the bases loaded to force in a run, and Yoshida followed with a single to score two more.
The Koreans scored one in the eighth to make it 8-6 but left the bases loaded when Yuki Matsumoto struck out Hyeseong Kim.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye was at the game Saturday. On Friday, Timothée Chalamet and Bad Bunny showed up.
Stuart Fairchild’s second-inning grand slam powered Chinese Taipei to a 14-0 victory over winless Czechia.
The victory was Chinese Taipei’s first in the tournament and came the day after it was pounded 13-0 by Japan.
The game was stopped by the mercy rule with Chinese Taipei leading by 10 or more after seven innings.
Chinese Taipei played small ball for a 2-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on two bunt singles, a double steal and a throwing error by Czechia catcher Martin Cervenka. It was Chinese Taipei’s first two runs of the tournament.
With two out, Czechia pitcher Jan Novak gave up a single and walked two, setting the stage for Fairchild’s blast. Fairchild, who qualified for the team through his Taiwanese mother, plays in the Cleveland Guardians organization.
Chinese Taipei added two more runs in the fourth, another in the fifth and five in the sixth. It also set a WBC tournament record with seven stolen bases.
Ohtani goes deep to level it up for Japan (0:34)Shohei Ohtani crushes a solo shot to bring Japan level vs. Korea. (0:34)
Atsuki Taneichi was the winning pitcher with a save for Taisei Ota. Yeong Hyun Park took the loss.
Fairchild’s grand slam powers Chinese Taipei to 14-0 win
Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang got the victory, and Novak was the losing pitcher.
Shohei Ohtani crushes a solo shot to bring Japan level vs. Korea. (0:34)