Japan rallies in seventh to beat Australia 4-3, clinches WBC quarterfinal

Defending champion Japan rallied from a 1-0 deficit to beat Australia 4-3 at the Tokyo Dome, securing first place in Pool C and becoming the tournament’s first team to clinch a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal spot.

Australia took a 1-0 lead in the sixth on an unearned run after Aaron Whitefield doubled, stole third and scored when Japan catcher Kenya Wakatsuki’s throw went awry. Japan threatened earlier in the fourth when it loaded the bases with Shohei Ohtani at the plate, but the rally was snuffed when Shugo Maki was picked off second by Australian catcher Robbie Perkins.

The turning point came with two outs in the seventh. Ohtani drew a four-pitch walk from reliever Jon Kennedy, one of 12 walks by Australia pitchers in the game, and Masataka Yoshida followed by pulling a low slider into the right-center seats for a two-run homer that put Japan ahead 2-1. Yoshida’s blast extended a torrid WBC run for the outfielder: he now has 19 RBIs in WBC play, third all-time behind Frederich Cepeda (23) and Alfredo Despaigne (21).

Japan added insurance in the eighth. Teruaki Sato doubled in Ukyo Shuto, and Sosuke Genda scored when Australia’s Ky Hampton issued a bases-loaded walk, pushing the lead to 4-1. Australia mounted a late charge in the ninth when Alex Hall and Rixon Wingrove hit back-to-back solo home runs, cutting the margin to 4-3, but Japan’s bullpen closed out the game. Chihiro Sumida was credited with the win and Taisei Ota recorded the save, while Jon Kennedy took the loss.

Japan’s starter Tomoyuki Sugano set the tone with four scoreless innings, allowing four hits before handing the ball to the bullpen. The game exposed Australia’s control issues, as those 12 walks factored heavily into Japan’s late chances and ultimately the outcome.

The result clinched Japan’s spot in the bracket set for Miami. Japan, now 3-0 in Pool C, will complete pool play on Tuesday against the Czech Republic before traveling to Miami for a quarterfinal scheduled for March 14. Australia, 2-1, can still claim the other quarterfinal berth from Pool C by beating South Korea on Monday.

Japan’s advance was sealed earlier in the day when Chinese Taipei beat South Korea 5-4 in extra innings at the same dome, a game highlighted by Stuart Fairchild’s two-run homer in the eighth. Fairchild, an outfielder in the Cleveland Guardians organization playing for Chinese Taipei, called it, "That was one of the most fun games I've ever played in my life."

For Japan, the win was confirmation of a familiar profile: a team that has relied heavily on the long ball, and on late-inning resolve, to carry a title defense. The quarterfinals now shift the focus from pool mechanics to knockout stakes, with travel and matchup preparation replacing the round-robin calculus that defined Pool C.