Japan rallies late to beat Australia 4-3, clinches first place in group at World Baseball Classic

Masataka Yoshida's two-run homer in the seventh inning lifts Japan over Australia

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Defending champion Japan became the first nation to clinch a quarterfinal berth in the World Baseball Classic, then rallied on Masataka Yoshida's two-run homer in the seventh inning to beat Australia 4-3 on Sunday night in Tokyo and assure first place in its first-round group.

Why it matters

Japan's victory over Australia clinches their spot in the quarterfinals of the prestigious World Baseball Classic tournament, further cementing their status as one of the top teams in international baseball. The win also secures Japan's position as the group leader, setting them up for a favorable matchup in the next round.

The details

Japan starter Tomoyuki Sugano pitched four scoreless innings, but Australia took a 1-0 lead in the sixth inning on an unearned run. In the seventh, Shohei Ohtani walked to lead off the inning, and Yoshida followed with a two-run homer to give Japan a 2-1 lead. Japan added two more runs in the eighth to make it 4-1 before Australia rallied with two solo homers in the ninth, but Japan held on for the victory.

  • Japan clinched advancement earlier Sunday when South Korea lost to Taiwan 5-4 in 10 innings.
  • Japan will travel to Miami for a quarterfinal on March 14 after completing the group stage on Tuesday against the Czech Republic.

The players

Masataka Yoshida

The Japanese outfielder hit a decisive two-run homer in the seventh inning to give Japan the lead.

Shohei Ohtani

The Japanese superstar walked to lead off the seventh inning, setting the stage for Yoshida's go-ahead homer.

Tomoyuki Sugano

The Japanese starting pitcher threw four scoreless innings, keeping his team in the game.

Aaron Whitefield

The Australian outfielder doubled, stole third, and scored the team's first run on a throwing error.

Jon Kennedy

The Australian pitcher took the loss after walking 12 batters over 6.1 innings.

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What they’re saying

“That was one of the most fun games I've ever played in my life.”

— Stuart Fairchild, Cleveland organization outfielder (Associated Press)

What’s next

Japan will travel to Miami for a quarterfinal matchup on March 14 after completing group play against the Czech Republic on Tuesday.

The takeaway

Japan's come-from-behind victory over Australia showcases the team's resilience and ability to win close games, further solidifying their status as one of the favorites to win the 2026 World Baseball Classic.