Japan holds off Australia behind Yoshida’s home run to claim Pool C

TOKYO (AP) — Defending champion Japan rallied from 1-0 down to beat Australia 4-3 on Sunday behind a seventh-inning, two-run homer with two out by Masataka Yoshida in the World Baseball Classic.

Japan added two insurance runs in the eighth. Ukyo Shuto scored on Teruaki Sato’s double and Sosuke Genda came in when Ky Hampton issued a walk with the bases loaded.

Japan needed those runs.

Alex Hall pulled Australia closer with a home run in the ninth, and Rixon Wingrove hit another on the next at-bat to make it 4-3.

Japan was already guaranteed of advancing to the quarterfinals, but the victory assured Japan of topping Pool C. Japan closes play on Tuesday against the Czech Republic.

Australia can clinch the other quarterfinal spot from the pool if it defeats South Korea on Monday.

Japan was kept in check throughout the game by Australian pitching until Yoshida got to Jon Kennedy, Australia’s fifth pitcher of the night, with a homer to right field.

Kennedy was the losing pitcher. The win went to Chihiro Sumida with a save for Taisei Ota.

Japan had scored all but one of its runs in the first two games of the tournament with home runs.

Australia scored in the sixth on sloppy baseball by Japan. Aaron Whitefield doubled and then stole third base and came home on a throwing error by Japanese catcher Kenya Wakatsuki.

Japan had its best early chance in the fourth, loading the bases with two out and Shohei Ohtani up. However, that ended when Shugo Maki was picked off second by Australian catcher Robbie Perkins with Ohanti standing in the box.

Although Japan had only five hits, it did get 12 walks from Australian pitching.