MIAMI — The matchup that many had dreamed about all along — between two of the world’s baseball powerhouses and two of its best players in Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout — is exactly what it came down to.
Ohtani, the two-way phenomenon, was Japan’s designated hitter all game and took the mound in the ninth inning with the chance to close out a title. And with a powerful inning, including a six-pitch strikeout of his Los Angeles Angels teammate Trout, Ohtani sent Japan into pandemonium.
With a 3-2 win, Japan dethroned the United States on Tuesday at loanDepot Park in Miami and claimed the 2023 World Baseball Classic trophy.