Japan's first step toward a World Baseball Classic (WBC) repeat was destructive. It pressed Taiwan into a mercy rule in the fifth inning and sealed a perfect win.

On Mar. 6 at Tokyo Dome, Japan opened its "2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC)" first-round Group C campaign with a 13-0, seventh-inning mercy-rule victory over Taiwan, signaling a flawless start. Japan earned its first win of the tournament, while Taiwan, with two losses, was pushed to the brink of elimination.

Japan's Ohtani Shohei strikes a pose after finishing a postgame interview. Mar. 6, 2026

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