Shohei Ohtani came out of the bullpen for the top of the ninth, determined to preserve Japan's 3-2 lead in the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship game and give his home country its third title in five tournaments.
Ohtani fell behind Jeff McNeil 3-1, but got him to foul two pitches off. His full count offering was too low and the United States had its leadoff man on as the potential tying run. Mookie Betts, who had singled in the fifth and seventh, took a 98-mph fastball just off the heart of the plate before hitting into a 4-6-3 double play.