Red Sox’s Masataka Yoshida has 5 RBIs in WBC win; Yu Chang hits clutch homer for Chinese Taipei

Suiting up for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida showed a glimpse of what he might bring to Boston this season.

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Yoshida paced Japan’s offense in a 13-4 rout over Korea on Friday, going 3-for-3 with five RBIs and a walk. Yoshida, who hit fifth for Japan (two spots behind Shohei Ohtani) had three singles in a sacrifice fly.

Yoshida’s offensive day started in the second inning with an infield single and a throwing error that allowed him to take second base. He then put Japan up with a two-run single in the third inning, plated Ohtani with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, added an RBI single in the sixth and added a fifth RBI when he walked in the seventh. Yoshida led Japan in both hits and RBIs.

Japan is off to a 2-0 start in this year’s WBC after beating China, 8-1, in their opening game Thursday. They’ll play again Saturday with a 5 a.m. ET first pitch against the Czech Republic.

You can watch a video of Yoshida’s performance here.

Chang hits game-tying homer

Yoshida wasn’t the only member of the Red Sox to have a big performance in WBC play Friday. Infielder Yu Chang, who re-signed on a major league deal early in spring training, had a big moment of his own Chinese Taipei’s 11-7 win over Italy.

With Italy leading 7-5 in the sixth inning, Chang hit a two-run shot off Simeon Woods Jr. to tie the game. He finished the day 2-for-4 with a double, homer and three runs.

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