Shohei Ohtani crushed a grand slam and RBI single for five RBIs and three hits, powering Samurai Japan to a dominant 13-0 mercy-rule victory over Chinese Taipei in the 2026 World Baseball Classic opener at Tokyo Dome on Friday night before 42,314 fans, highlighted by a tournament-record 10-run second inning.
Samurai Japan launched its bid for a fourth World Baseball Classic title—and back-to-back crowns—with a commanding 13-0 victory over Chinese Taipei on March 7, 2026, at Tokyo Dome, drawing 42,314 spectators. The game ended after seven innings under the tournament's mercy rule.
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani, batting leadoff, set the tone early. In his first at-bat, he ripped a 117.1 mph double down the right-field line off starter Cheng Hao-Chun but was stranded at third.
The second inning erupted with the bases loaded and Ohtani at the plate. He launched Cheng's 2-1 curveball for a grand slam into the right-field stands—the spark for a 10-run frame, the most runs in a single inning in WBC history. Ohtani capped the inning with an RBI single later, totaling five RBIs and three hits. "I knew it was going to leave the park right after I hit it," Ohtani said. "It’s important to score first, so I really wanted to drive in at least a run." "That was the inning that really decided the game," he added. "After scoring the first few runs, we kept our focus and worked some walks."
As he circled the bases after the grand slam, Ohtani joined the team's new matcha-whisking celebration, a morale-boosting ritual from warm-ups. Japan added three runs in the third, collecting 13 hits overall.
On the mound, Dodgers standout Yoshinobu Yamamoto worked 2⅔ hitless innings. Japan's five pitchers combined for one hit allowed and eight strikeouts.
The win gives Samurai Japan a strong start in Pool C, with upcoming games against South Korea on Saturday, Australia on Sunday, and the Czech Republic on Tuesday. The top two teams from each pool advance to the quarterfinals in the United States, potentially including Miami.
Ohtani's grand slam quickly went viral on social media, captivating fans worldwide.
