The World Baseball Classic continued Saturday morning with Japan defeating the Czech Republic 10-2 in Pool B play.
The Czech Republic actually held the lead first in Saturday’s matchup, scoring a run in the first inning off an error by Japan. But a three-run third inning and a four-run fourth inning propelled Japan to victory, moving to 3-0 in Pool B.
With Saturday’s win, Japan advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic.
Japan still has one more Pool B game left before the knockout stage though. It faces Australia on Sunday morning.
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Here are the top plays from Saturday’s game!
FINAL: Japan 10, Czech Republic 2
Error opens up the scoring
Takumu Nakano‘s wild throw from shortstop with two outs in the first allowed the runner from second base to score to give the Czech Republic a 1-0 lead.
Out of the jam!
Ondrej Satoria got out of the bases-loaded jam in the second to keep Japan scoreless.
Big defensive play!
Martin Muzik’s dive prevented a base hit for Japan to open up the bottom of the third inning.
Japan out in front
Masataka Yoshida hit a double in the third that knocked in two runners and he scored on a base hit by Tetsuto Yamada to make it 3-1 Japan.
Japan has a four-run fourth inning
Japan had a very active fourth inning. Lars Nootbaar, Kensuke Kondoh and Shohei Ohtani all had RBI hits in the inning to make it 6-1.
After his double, Ohtani stole third base, which allowed him to score on a sac fly by Yoshida to make it 7-1.
Picked off!
Hiroya Miyagi picked off Eric Sogard at second base to end the top of the fifth inning after the Czech Republic got one run back to make it a 7-2 game.
Two-out knock
Taisei Makihara got a base hit the other way to score another run for Japan and make it 8-2 in the fifth.
Big double play for the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic turned two at a much-needed time with the bases loaded in the sixth, ending the inning.
Add it to the board
Shugo Maki hit a solo shot in the eighth inning to add to Japan’s lead, making it 9-2 as it inches closer to a quarterfinals berth.
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