Japan-Australia live updates: Ohtani’s HR has Japan out in front early

The World Baseball Classic continued Sunday morning as Japan defeated Australia 7-1 to close out Pool B with a 4-0 record and advance to the quarterfinals. 

Japan won with ease on Sunday as Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer in the first inning, giving Japan all the runs it needed to win. 

Here are the top plays from Sunday’s game!

FINAL: Japan 7, Australia 1

Oh my, Ohtani!

Just a few minutes after the first pitch Japan took a 3-0 lead. Shohei Ohtani worked his magic and crushed a pitch over the heart of the plate into the right field bleachers for a three-run home run.

Adding on

Kensuke Kondo drove a liner into right to score Lars Nootbaar, who hit an RBI single earlier in the second inning, to make it 5-0 Japan.

Strong pitching

Yoshinobu Yamamoto kept Japan’s lead intact early by pitching three scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

An RBI walk for Ohtani

Even when he doesn’t swing, Ohtani knocks in runs. With the bases loaded in the fourth, Ohtani drew a four-pitch walk to give Japan a 6-0 lead.

Masterful start

Yamamoto closed off his start with a strikeout in the fourth inning, giving him two in each inning he pitched in and eight on the day as he threw four scoreless innings for Japan. 

More runs for Japan!

Yuhei Nakamura hit a liner the opposite way for a double to score a run and make it 7-0 Japan in the fifth. The base hit had the Japan bench celebrating.

One for pride

Alex Hall hit a solo home run for Australia in the bottom of the ninth, giving it a run to avoid the shutout.

Ballgame! 

Hiroto Takahashi struck out Andrew Campbell to win the game and close out Pool B play for Japan. 

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