![Japanese Shohei Ohtani throws a ball in the first inning during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool B match between Japan and China at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 9, 2023. (](https://featured.japan-forward.com/sportslook/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/03/cropped-okamoto-0316.jpg)
Murakami, Okamoto Spark Japan Over Italy and Into WBC Semifinals
![Japanese Shohei Ohtani throws a ball in the first inning during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool B match between Japan and China at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 9, 2023. (](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Shohei_Ohtani_%2852251723213%29_%28cropped_2%29.jpg)
Shohei Ohtani - Wikipedia
![Japanese Shohei Ohtani throws a ball in the first inning during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool B match between Japan and China at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 9, 2023. (](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2P8E0EA/japanese-shohei-ohtani-throws-a-ball-in-the-first-inning-during-the-world-baseball-classic-wbc-pool-b-match-between-japan-and-china-at-tokyo-dome-in-tokyo-on-march-9-2023-the-yomiuri-shimbun-via-ap-images-2P8E0EA.jpg)
Japanese Shohei Ohtani throws a ball in the first inning during
![Japanese Shohei Ohtani throws a ball in the first inning during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool B match between Japan and China at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 9, 2023. (](https://featured.japan-forward.com/sportslook/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/03/resized-wbc-title1-0322.jpg)
Japan Dethrones US, Captures Third World Baseball Classic Title
![Japanese Shohei Ohtani throws a ball in the first inning during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool B match between Japan and China at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 9, 2023. (](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/sx2jQ97OSJ7Nlg.k16xbKg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTY0MDtoPTQyNw--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/ap.org/aeeb06097d66e9f6244ada3d05ce86ad)
Ohtani leads Japan in World Classic, Bogaerts lifts Dutch
![Japanese Shohei Ohtani throws a ball in the first inning during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool B match between Japan and China at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 9, 2023. (](https://l450v.alamy.com/450v/2p8jcp6/japanese-shohei-ohtani-hits-2-run-timely-two-base-hit-in-the-4th-inning-during-the-world-baseball-classic-wbc-pool-b-match-between-japan-and-china-at-tokyo-dome-in-tokyo-on-march-9-2023-the-yomiuri-shimbun-via-ap-images-2p8jcp6.jpg)
Japanese Shohei Ohtani hits 2-run timely two-base hit in the 4th
![Japanese Shohei Ohtani throws a ball in the first inning during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool B match between Japan and China at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 9, 2023. (](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/t6KnhxHc3TMFUetKUc8esw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTY0MDtoPTQyNw--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/ap.org/533025b09bda7acdd0656979ae7a0b31)
Ohtani leads Japan in World Classic, Bogaerts lifts Dutch