Korea vs. Japan 2026 World Baseball Classic - Game Highlights

Perhaps the biggest game in this pool today. We show you the standings in the pool. The idol Aussies 2 and 0. As they get ready for a date with someone in Japan on Sunday here in Tokyo Japan and Korea. One of them will join Australia after the conclusion of tonight's game. Japan and Korea. They always seem to deliver some great moments. Korea has not beaten Japan in the World Baseball Classic since 2009 in the second round 17 years later I'm going to try and do it again. Then all the hands are full because they're going to be facing a lefty Kikuchi but overall that'll be a good thing. It's an interesting matchup right the left handed Kikuchi against the right handed boppers of the Korean lineup him with a ground ball base hit in the left field in the 22 year old twenty twenty four KBO MVP entered the tournament red hot homered in three straight exhibitions leading up to their opener he was 0 for 3 in that game he has his first official hit of the tournament now now an American League matchup Kikuchi against Jamie Jones of the Detroit Tigers Jones with a flair in the right center field down for a hit going first to third is him. How about this start for the Koreans finish Alaska with a ton of confidence and that's exactly how they start at the corners with nobody out for the San Francisco Giants. John who lead it takes the first lead three consecutive singles to start the game against you say Kikuchi did we say it was going to be intense. Three hitters and five pitches later they are the man who hit the very first green slam in pool seat in this WBC Moon goes to the left center field gap Suzuki can't get it. It's down dribbling all the way to the wall. Jones coming home. He's waving in John Haley behind him and drives into with a two out of double. This is quite telling here on the approach I've had against Kikuchi so far they know the slider will be there right now. Remember this is still early March and that sharpness is not yet there in repetition wise in putting that slider in good spots. And they have done the most out of trying to do the least with every single swing. You got to know Shohei Ohtani was licking his chops for coming to the plate to lead off the game in the bottom of the first inning. Oh this is up and in a lead off walk for Shohei last time the Pan Trail by three twenty twenty-three semifinals against Mexico ended up winning that game six five. I'll say Suzuki the Chicago Cubs Suzuki Swanson in the air right field. This one's hit well it's gone. You didn't think this offense was going to go quietly did you get a loud opposite field shot. We got a one run game in the bottom of the first repeat pretty much of what we saw last night in the second inning a repeater one just good at bats taking information of one of the information at Suzuki's first career WBC extra base hit didn't have one in twenty seventeen when he last played missed twenty twenty three with an injury on the board in twenty twenty six and has Japan on the board three to Shohei Ohtani represents the tying run only the bottom of the third lot of ballgame left ball in a strike Cole to Ohtani Ohtani drills one it's not that easy to do so. Must see TV must see live at best you can't even leave your couch can't let alone your seat in the ballpark takes Kikuchi off of the hook. Conversely the reaction from Cole on the mound right after contact Kikuchi and Ohtani not just friends colleagues competitors in the same region of Japan that you want a prefecture up north tied at three in the third two ounce bases empty Seah Suzuki Suzuki turns on another one no doubt someone on Japan takes the lead the third Japanese player in WBC history with a multi home run game is Seah Suzuki a match of which is made for you and your mechanics your swing path your your load and then the explosiveness through the zone so here Ohtani and Seah Suzuki hits solo home runs now it's your seat has turned the macho man makes it a hat trick in the third inning Suzuki and Yoshida go back to back Japan up by two some kind of firepower it will get you in a game so quickly down three nothing at one point look where we are now now still learning again there are a lot of folks in Japan who were clamoring for Ito to start this game instead he is the first out of the bullpen in relief of Kikuchi working with a 5 3 lead and he plunks the first battery faces Juwon Kim the number seven hitter final line for Kikuchi by the way three innings three runs on six hits didn't walk a batter struck out for three balls and a strike on Hassan Kim top of the order is on deck now Hassan Kim a comet sighting in Japan Korea punches back we're tied at five or he knew he had the best part about that Jose was our pregame conversation with Hassan because he was one of the supremely confident members of this roster and he said I said Hey Hassan you're going deep tonight and he goes everybody but me he was wrong back to the top with show hey all Tony every phone in the building reporting the fifth player in four major North American Pro Leagues with four MVPs in five seasons bonds LeBron James Wayne Gretzky Bill Russell show hey son to try again hope the other way the base hit in the left center field Tony has reached for a third time tonight as many plate appearances first base is open. You think there's any chance they don't put up four fingers here start now. They have not yet signaled. Now they do. I know the Tokyo Dome crowd hates to see it but that is the obvious move for any opposing manager. It's a classic. You don't let that guy beat you. The bases are loaded for Seah Suzuki. We have to debate a drama. We got drama bases loaded two outs nowhere to put Suzuki. Here comes the three one. Now Yoshida's turn Boston Red Sox one for three with a homer. Here comes another five. Samurai Japan a crooked number in the seven. So many times he has come through in this tournament when it comes down to RBI nobody has been better. He's picked up right where he left off in twenty twenty three when he had a record 13 RBI in seven games the most by a player in a single world baseball classic. He's got four already in Japan leads once again now needs six outs. Yuki Matsumoto has the ball for the top of the facing Jung who lead to start Lee with a liner and a left center field cut off by Suzuki Lee going for second Suzuki's throw anyway it's a lead off double for Jung who leave ball ball for a four pitch walk here with two outs in the eighth tying run strolling to the plate for Team Korea. You won't Kim the NC Dinos set a career high in home runs last year with 15 first pitch on the ground base hit right center field Jung who Lee will score it's now eight to six and the tying runs are on base ball for the bases are loaded tying runs in scoring position potential go ahead runner on base Matsumoto remaining in the game to face tests on Kim you want a drama. He's still having strike the bases are left loaded eight six Japan in the middle of the Taisei celebrated member of the Yomiuri Giants the back end of their bullpen has the ninth inning his first pitch sinking to shallow center but there is Shukla for the first down Korea down to its final two outs. Jones hits a fly ball to straightaway center field Chuto at the wall he jumps every single out is quite valuable perfectly time. Now Jung who Lee bounces the first pitch to first base that's a ball game over Samurai Japan wins a back and forth slugfest and the latest installment of this international rivalry. Eight six over Korea.