Masataka Yoshida's two-run homer in the seventh inning powered Samurai Japan's 4-3 comeback win over Australia in the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool C at Tokyo Dome, securing the top spot with a perfect 3-0 record. The match, attended by Japan's Emperor, Empress, and Princess Aiko, highlighted Yoshida's tournament dominance and team morale boosted by adviser Yu Darvish's symbolic jersey.
On March 9 at Tokyo Dome, Samurai Japan trailed Australia 1-0 entering the bottom of the seventh in their Pool C finale of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida faced left-hander Jon Kennedy, crushing a down-and-in slider for a projected 394-foot two-run homer to right field, snapping a 1-1 tie and igniting a 4-3 victory. This marked Japan's third straight win—13-0 over Taiwan on Friday and 8-1 over South Korea on Saturday—clinching the top seed ahead of Tuesday's game against the Czech Republic and a Sunday quarterfinal in Miami against Pool D's runner-up.
"We were facing a series of tough pitchers, and I just wanted to take my best swing," Yoshida said. "Luckily, it ended up being a home run." Through three games and 10 at-bats, Yoshida is 5-for-10 with four runs, one double, two homers (including one vs. Korea), and six RBIs, posting a 1.783 OPS—half his 2025 MLB total in just 55 games amid shoulder surgery recovery. His performance echoes his .409 average and 13 RBIs in Japan's 2023 WBC title run.
The game drew royal attention, with the Emperor, Empress, and Princess Aiko in attendance. Despite missing stars like Shohei Ohtani, Japan drew inspiration from 39-year-old San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish, an adviser rehabbing from elbow surgery. His No. 11 jersey hung in the dugout; Chunichi Dragons' Hiroto Takahashi touched it before the Taiwan game, saying, "I felt it would give me power." Darvish, posting on X from the U.S., wrote, "I handed them my uniform and told them, 'Give it back in Miami.' I’m so moved."
Takahashi, who learned a cutter from Darvish in camp, added, "Without Darvish, the team wouldn’t have built up like this." Colorado Rockies' Tomoyuki Sugano, after an hour-long talk with Darvish, called it "an unforgettable time that I cannot put into words."
Back with the Red Sox, manager Alex Cora praised Yoshida: "When he was healthy in ‘23, he was one of the best hitters in the big leagues." Facing outfield competition from teammates like Jarren Duran in the WBC, Cora noted, "When you hit in this league, you always find ways to play those guys." Japan advances fulfilling its promise to Darvish in pursuit of back-to-back WBC titles.
