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03/10 09:58 CDT Japan finishes World Baseball Classic group unbeaten, tops
Czechs 9-0 behind Murakami's grand slam
Japan finishes World Baseball Classic group unbeaten, tops Czechs 9-0 behind
Murakami's grand slam
The Associated Press
Defending champion Japan completed an unbeaten group stage at the World
Baseball Classic, beating the Czech Republic 9-0 on Tuesday night behind a
nine-run eighth inning capped by Munetaka Murakami's grand slam.
After outscoring opponents 39-9 in going 4-0, Japan advanced to a quarterfinal
on Saturday in Miami against Venezuela or the Dominican Republic.
Japan rested Shohei Ohtani, who is hitting .556 with two homers, six RBIs and
four walks.
The Czechs, the 2025 European championship bronze medalists, finished 0-4 and
were outscored 39-5 while batting .167, 19th among the 20 teams and ahead of
only Brazil (.130).
Kenya Wakatsuki hit a go-ahead double in the eighth off loser Michal Kovala,
who was removed after Ukyo Shuto's three-run homer. Shugo Maki drew a
bases-loaded walk from Ryan Johnson, a two-way player who also appears at first
base. Murakami drove a fastball at the top of the strike zone 425 feet into the
right-center field seats.
Czech starter Ondrej (pronounced Andre) Satoria allowed six hits over 4 2/3
innings, throwing 42 changeups among 67 pitches. His fastest offering was 79.9
mph.
Satoria is famous in Japan. He struck out Ohtani on three pitches in the 2023
World Baseball Classic.
"I'm sad," Satoria said before the game, knowing Ohtani was out of the lineup.
"I think a lot of fans are sad, too. Maybe he's resting for the long trip to
Miami."
Winner Yumeto Kanemaru struck out five over two perfect innings.
All of the Czech players have day jobs. Satoria, who is retiring from the
national team, is an electrician and manager Pavel Chadim -- that's Dr. Chadim
-- is a neurologist.
Chadim wore the 2025 European championship bronze medal to an interview session.
"I have this medal because I want to show to some people in the world that we
are not baseball tourists," Chadim said. "We are doing baseball as
professionals. We don't want excuses. We play as professionals on the field."
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
