MIAMI — All anyone could think and talk about leading up to the World Baseball Classic championship game was the enticing possibility of two-way icon Shohei Ohtani looming on the mound, 60 feet and six inches away from his Los Angeles Angels teammate, three-time MVP Mike Trout.
So, of course, the way it played out was that these two baseball legends, best in the game at what they do, clashed in the top of the ninth inning with two outs and Team USA trailing Samurai Japan by one run. If it didn’t actually happen before our eyes, it would be easier to believe the situation was scripted. It was, quite simply, the matchup of a lifetime.
Ohtani, the closer, was announced on the loanDepot park PA system and the crowd roared before nearly every single fan in the ballpark stood up to watch the peak of baseball greatness. All at once, “U-S-A” chants broke out. And then it happened. Representing the final out, Trout stepped up to the plate.
Slider, fastball, fastball, fastball, fastball.
With the count 3-2, Ohtani went back to his slider, a nasty 87 mph pitch that Trout swung through. The best hitter of the past decade was completely overmatched by his Angels teammate, the euphoria of the moment prompting Ohtani to lift his arms and throw his hat and glove away.
Japan had not only just secured a 3-2 win on Tuesday night in Miami but a record third WBC title in the tournament’s fifth installment. The thrilling finish came just hours after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred confirmed the WBC will return in 2026.
Japan defeats USA 3-2 to win the 2023 WBC Championship
Japan’s Shohei Ohtani struck out USA’s Mike Trout to defeat USA 3-2 and win the 2023 World Baseball Classic Championship.
Deesha Thosar is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
Read more:
WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC trending
Get more from World Baseball Classic Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
