In seesaw battle, Japan use blend of power, small ball to topple Korea

Japan and Korea engaged in arguably the most entertaining game thus far in the 2026 World Baseball Classic on Saturday, with Samurai Japan ultimately prevailing, 8-6.

• Box score

The ball was jumping early inside the Tokyo Dome as the two clubs combined for five home runs through the first four innings, four of which were supplied by the Pool C hosts. But it was a dose of small ball and some erratic pitching from the Koreans in the seventh inning that made the difference for the reigning Classic champions.

With the game tied 5-5, Japan loaded the bases with the help of three walks -- including an intentional pass to Shohei Ohtani -- sandwiched around a sacrifice bunt and a groundout. Cubs slugger Seiya Suzuki then broke the tie by working another walk before the Red Sox’s Masataka Yoshida lined a two-run single to center.

Suzuki and Yoshida combined for three homers and drove in seven of Japan’s eight runs on the night. They bashed back-to-back dingers as part of a three-homer third inning that also included Ohtani’s second long ball in as many days.

That power surge gave Japan a short-lived lead that vanished in the top of the fourth when Ohtani’s Dodgers teammate Hyeseong Kim unloaded for a no-doubt two-run shot to right field.

Kim had a chance to change the game’s complexion again in the top of the eighth as he stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and Korea trailing by two. However, he was caught looking at a Yuki Matsumoto fastball that hit the bottom of the zone and ended the threat. Five Japanese pitchers combined to strike out 15 Korean batters in the game.

Four of those K’s came from Japan’s starting pitcher and Angels left-hander Yusei Kikuchi. The veteran southpaw, however, gave up three runs on four hits in the top of the first. Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee struck first with an RBI single before Bo Gyeong Moon lashed a pitch past a diving Suzuki in center field for a two-run double.

It wasn’t Suzuki’s finest moment on defense, but he made up for it instantly by hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the frame, his first of two homers in the victory.

Japan’s next game will come Sunday against Australia, another 2-0 squad. First pitch on FS1 is scheduled for 6 a.m. ET. Korea will try to rebound vs. Chinese Taipei at 10 p.m. ET on Saturday night on FS2.