Defending champion Japan completed an unbeaten group stage at the World Baseball Classic, beating the Czech Republic 9-0 on Tuesday\u2026<\/p>\n
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\u2019s grand slam.<\/p>\n
After outscoring opponents 39-9 in going 4-0, Japan advanced to a quarterfinal on Saturday in Miami against Venezuela or the Dominican Republic.<\/p>\n
Japan rested Shohei Ohtani<\/a>, who is hitting .556 with two homers, six RBIs and four walks.<\/p>\n 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).<\/p>\n Kenya Wakatsuki hit a go-ahead double in the eighth off loser Michal Kovala, who was removed after Ukyo Shuto\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n