Samurai Japan secured a 9-0 shutout victory over the Czech Republic at Tokyo Dome, topping Pool C in the World Baseball Classic (WBC). The game broke open in the eighth inning with a three-run homer by Ukyo Shuto and a grand slam by Munetaka Murakami. They will next face the runner-up from Pool D in Miami.
In the final Pool C game of the World Baseball Classic (WBC), Samurai Japan defeated the Czech Republic 9-0 at Tokyo Dome on March 11, 2026. This win allowed Japan to finish atop Pool C with a 2-1 record and advance to the quarterfinals.
The game remained scoreless through seven innings, but the eighth inning saw a breakthrough. A double by pinch-hitter Kenya Wakatsuki combined with an error scored the first run, followed by Ukyo Shuto's surprising three-run homer—known more for speed than power—and Munetaka Murakami's grand slam off a 140 kph fastball to right-center. Murakami, who had struggled with just two singles and one RBI in the previous three games, showed signs of recovery.
"It felt great coming off the bat," Murakami said, hoping it would serve as a turning point. Manager Hirokazu Ibata added, "I was hoping [Murakami] would get a good one, so I hope this serves as a catalyst for him. Extra-base hits will, of course, be the key [from the quarterfinals onward]."
Japan will face the runner-up from Pool D on Saturday (Sunday Japan time) in Miami, Florida. The opponent is likely to be Venezuela or the Dominican Republic, both with strong rosters.
