Japan vs. Mexico score: Shohei Ohtani sparks late rally as Japan will face USA in World Baseball Classic final

Japan defeated Mexico 6-5 on Monday night to advance to the 2023 World Baseball Classic finals. In Tuesday’s championship, Japan will now play the United States, who blew out Cuba in the other semifinal on Sunday. Japan is the only multi-time champion in WBC history, but the United States could join them with a win.

Japan starter Roki Sasaki and Mexico starter Patrick Sandoval traded zeroes through the first three innings. It wasn’t until the fourth that someone scored, with that coming on a three-run home run by Mexico’s Luis Urías. Take a look:

Japan would threaten in the fifth and the sixth, but Mexico would keep them off the board behind a pair of good catches from Randy Arozarena, including this web gem:

Japan would tie the game in the bottom of the seventh when Masataka Yoshida launched a three-run shot of his own against reliever JoJo Romero to 1) become the WBC single-tournament leader in runs batted in and 2) square the game at 3-3:

Mexico answered right back. Arozarena and Alex Verdugo hit consecutive doubles in the top of the eighth, retaking the lead:

Japan would get a run back on a Hotaka Yamakawa sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth, reducing the lead to 5-4. Mexico’s closer Giovanny Gallegos faced the heart of the order in the ninth with a chance to lock down the victory. Instead, he surrendered a leadoff double to Shohei Ohtani, a walk to Masataka Yoshida, and a walk-off double to Munetaka Murakami:

Here’s three other things to know about Japan’s win.

1. Sasaki awes

As we noted entering the tournament, young Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki stands out as one of the most exciting players in the world who isn’t presently part of MLB. He validated the sentiment on Tuesday.

Sasaki threw four innings, surrendering three runs on five hits and no walks. He struck out three of the 16 batters he faced. He also showed off elite stuff, including a fastball that topped out at 102 mph. He averaged 95 mph on his pitches, and he generated 12 whiffs on 33 swings taken against him.

Sasaki, 21 years old, put himself on the global scene last April when he struck out 19 as part of the first perfect game in Nippon Professional Baseball in nearly 30 years. Sasaki was replaced by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, NPB’s reigning MVP and Cy Young equivalent Award winner. Yamamoto would allow the eventual go-ahead runs, giving up a pair in 3 1/3 innings of work.

Relievers Atsuki Yuasa and Taisei Ota subsequently kept Mexico off the board for 1 2/3 innings, allowing the Japan lineup a chance at closing the deficit. The Japan lineup took full advantage in the ninth.

2. Sandoval steals the show

Sasaki may have been the bigger name and shown the louder stuff, but Mexican southpaw Patrick Sandoval one-upped him in the most important category: the runs allowed column.

Sandoval threw 4 ⅓ scoreless innings, allowing four hits and a walk. He struck out six of the 17 batters he faced. According to Statcast, he also generated seven whiffs on 30 swings, with four of those coming on his slider. 

Astros righty José Urquidy replaced Sandoval. He worked his way out of trouble as part of 2 1/3 innings but was charged with a run as part of the aforementioned Romero’s allowed home run. Jesus Cruz later checked in and struggled with his command, but Gerardo Reyes ended an eighth-inning threat by striking out Kensuke Kondoh. Alas, Gallegos couldn’t keep up his end of the bargain.

3. Final set

Again, Team USA will tangle with Japan on Tuesday night in the WBC finals. The first pitch will occur at about 7 p.m. ET, with the winner walking away with hardware. The Americans won the 2017 edition, whereas Team Japan won the 2006 and 2009 editions. Merrill Kelly and Yu Darvish are expected to start for their respective teams.

You can relive our live coverage of Monday’s game below.