Samurai Japan's "super star" Ohtani Shohei (LA Dodgers) once again fired up the Tokyo Dome. This time he hit a game-tying home run against Korea, tying the record for most home runs by a Japanese player in WBC history.
Ohtani hit a second consecutive game of the tournament with a homer in the first-round game against Korea in the sixth World Baseball Classic (WBC) at the Tokyo Dome on the 7th.
Batting as the No. 1 designated hitter, Ohtani hit a game-tying solo home run in his second at-bat in the third inning with one out and no runners on, trailing 2-3.
He carried the momentum from the previous day's game against Taiwan. In the March 6 game against Taiwan, Ohtani hit a go-ahead grand slam over the right-field wall with one out in the second inning, leading the team to a 13-0, seven-inning cold-game victory. He had an outstanding performance that day with three hits in four at-bats and five RBIs.
Japanese sports outlet Sports Hochi reported, "Ohtani recorded his third career home run in the WBC, matching the most by a Japanese player." So far, Nakata Sho and Tsutsugo Yoshitomo have each hit three home runs in the WBC.
Before the tournament, his batting touch did not seem fully warmed up. In live batting practice at the Glendale, Arizona, camp in the United States, he had no balls clearing the fence in 10 plate appearances, and in an exhibition game against the Los Angeles Angels he managed only one hit in three at-bats. In post-return tuneup games against Hanshin and Orix, he was held hitless in five at-bats.
But he changed completely as soon as the WBC began. Following the grand slam against Taiwan, he followed with an arching shot against Korea and instantly displayed peak hitting form.
Even in the pregame batting practice that day, Ohtani's prodigious power remained intact. He cleared the fence five times in 26 swings and launched an enormous estimated 150-meter shot that flew over the upper scoreboard in right field.
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