Japan defeated the United States to win the 2023 World Baseball Series

Gonzalo Jimenez

(CNN) Team Japan defeated Team USA 3-2 on Tuesday to win the 2023 World Baseball Classic in Miami, Florida.

The USA took an early lead on a Philadelphia Phillies home run in the top of the second inning to give the Americans a 1-0 lead. It was Turner’s fifth home run in the championship, tying the baseball classic world record.

Shuhei Ohtani in the final of the World Baseball Classic. (Image credit: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

But Japan quickly responded on a home run with a close range shot by defending Nippon Professional Baseball MVP Munetaka Murakami of Tokyo Yakult Swallows on the first pitch from the bottom of the second inning.

Later in the half, Japan scored again to take a 2-1 lead.

In the fourth inning, Japan doubled its lead on a home run by Kazuma Okamoto of the NPB Yomiuri Giants to make it 3-1.

Cuban baseball player Ivan Prieto Gonzalez defects after being defeated in the Baseball World Cup, according to reports.

The United States narrowed the difference with Philadelphia Phillies player Kyle Schwarber in the eighth game, who left the game in one run.

Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani, who hit a one-hit run earlier in the game, pulled off the game in the ninth inning. Ohtani walked the leadoff before spurring on a double play by Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts to set up a thrilling duel against fellow USA captain Mike Trott.

Team Japan celebrates after the final game of the World Baseball Classic by defeating Team USA at LoanDepot Park on March 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida. (Image credit: Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

Trout worked the batter to the full count of three balls and two strikes, but Otani hit a teammate into the slider to end the game.

Addressing his teammates before the game, Otani urged his team not to be intimidated by America’s star-studded MLB team.

“Let’s stop liking them,” said Otani, translated by Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. “If you admire them, you can’t outrun them. We came here to beat them, to get to the top. For one day, let’s take our admiration out of them and just think about winning.”

For Japan, this is the third World Baseball Classic tournament they have won, after winning the first two editions of the tournament in 2006 and 2009.

This was the first World Baseball Classic since 2017, when the American team took home the trophy. The tournament was postponed from 2021 to 2023 due to the covid-19 pandemic and was held in the United States, Japan and Taiwan.

CNN Wire
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