Team USA's WBC final opponent set: Japan takes down Mexico in classic duel to set up heavily anticipated final

The 2023 World Baseball Classic championship game is set.

Defending champions Team USA, which clinched its berth on Sunday (19 March), will face Japan after a thrilling second semi-final on Monday night (20 March) in Miami, Florida, that saw the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallists come back for a dramatic 6-5 victory over Mexico.

Samurai Japan just about maintained its unbeaten record in the tournament after Murakami Munetaka, the youngest Triple Crown winner in Japanese baseball history who had been in a 4-for-21 (.190) slump, hit a walk-off two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning.

For the longest time, Mexico – the only team to have beaten the Americans this tournament – looked like they would make the final. Facing fire-throwing starter Sasaki Roki, Luis Urías hit a mistake pitch out in the fourth inning for a three-run home run.

Japan's hitters could count themselves unlucky, having repeatedly found Mexican left fielder Randy Arozarena in unbelievable defensive form with their hard-hit balls.

The Mexican lead lasted until the bottom of the seventh, when new Boston Red Sox outfielder Yoshida Masataka tied the game with a three-run shot of his own off the right-field foul pole.

Mexico reclaimed the advantage by plating two runs in the top of the eighth, but Japan kept the conveyor belt moving, responding with one run in the bottom of the eighth.

The Japanese bullpen then held Mexico scoreless in the top of the ninth to set up the middle of their lineup in the bottom half: two-way star Ohtani Shohei, Yoshida and Murakami – the single-season home run record holder for a Japanese-born player in NPB.

Ohtani led off with a first-pitch double to right-centre field off Mexican reliever Giovanny Gallegos before Yoshida worked a walk to bring up Murakami, facing the biggest test of his tournament.

But on the third pitch on a 1-1 count, Murakami crushed a hanging fastball 400 feet to dead centre off the wall for a double that scored both Ohtani and pinch-runner Shuto Ukyo, sending the Japanese dugout wild.

"I struck out so many times, so much frustration," Murakami said. "Through that my teammates bailed me out by providing the runs and then came the last at-bat. I managed to get the job done in the end but it really was a team victory.

"I’m glad I came through. Tomorrow is the last game we play together with this team. I want it to be a great final."

Ohtani ready for relief in final

Ohtani praised Murakami for his resilience despite his poor form at the WBC.

"I never expected a game like this. I know it’s been tough for Mune but he did it for us at the end," Ohtani said of the Yakult Swallows slugger who hit the game-winning home run in the Olympic gold-medal match two years ago.

"It’s really been difficult for him. Behind the scenes he was swinging the bat more than anyone but I knew he’d hit when the time came. As long as I got on base I was sure we’d get a run."

Japan will look for its third WBC title (2006, 2009) on Tuesday against the Americans. Manager Kuriyama Hideki announced after the game that lefty Imanaga Shota will start for Japan while USA is expected to throw Merrill Kelly on the mound.

Ohtani, who went 2-for-4 and scored twice Monday, is expected to bat third as DH again in the final - but will also be set to pitch out of the pen if necessary.

Ohtani has won both of his starts during the WBC, punching out 10 in eight-plus innings with a 2.08 ERA.

If he does take the hill, he could get the dream matchup everyone has been waiting for against Los Angeles Angels teammate and USA captain, Mike Trout.

"Our seasons have yet to begin but everyone is scraping the bottom of the barrel and going all in. I’m going to be as ready as I can be," Ohtani said. "But the important thing is to get us to a point where the game is on the line. I need to be sharp from the first at-bat.

"We’re up against the greatest opponents on the greatest stage. I want to enjoy it. I’m sure we’ll be nervous but we have to have the mindset that we are going to win no matter what.

"I think a couple of times today, we were close to being broken as a team. But we never gave up and hung in the game, which is what led to the finish we had. We were all fantastic."

Japan's road to the World Baseball Classic final

Pool stage:

People's Republic of China 1–8 Japan

Korea Republic 4–13 Japan

Czech Republic (Czechia) 2–10 Japan

Japan 7–1 Australia

Quarter-final: Italy 3–9 Japan

Semi-final: Mexico 5–6 Japan