Ozzie Albies Netherlands hits walk-off to beat Nicaragua
ozzie albies netherlands finished a dramatic ninth-inning rally with a walk-off home run, ending the Netherlands’ game against Nicaragua in pool play of the World Baseball Classic and capping a comeback that began in the late innings.
Ozzie Albies Netherlands seals win with walk-off
Jeter Downs had given Nicaragua the lead with a run in the top of the eighth, putting his team up 3-1, but the Netherlands forced extra drama in the ninth. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Xander Bogaerts hit a two-out double to tie the game, and Ozzie Albies then stepped to the plate and ended the contest with a walk-off home run.
How the ninth inning unfolded
The late rally hinged on Bogaerts’ two-out double in the bottom of the ninth, which erased the deficit created when Jeter Downs put Nicaragua ahead in the top of the eighth. The sequence concluded when ozzie albies netherlands swung and delivered the game-ending homer, turning a tense finish into a sudden celebration for his team.
Japan beats Korea, other pool-play action
Earlier in the day, Japan beat Korea 8-6 in pool play. Seiya Suzuki hit two home runs and Shohei Ohtani added a homer as Japan moved to 2-0 in the pool. Korea threatened late — cutting the margin in the eighth inning — but Japan’s pitching held and the team finished with 15 strikeouts and two walks in that game.
Pool play continued throughout the day with other matchups scheduled: Panama vs. Puerto Rico at 6: 00 p. m. ET, Great Britain vs. United States at 8: 00 p. m. ET, and Chinese Taipei vs. Korea at 10: 00 p. m. ET. Japan is set to play Australia next, with that game scheduled for 6: 00 a. m. ET tomorrow.
The Netherlands’ walk-off ended one of the more dramatic moments of the opening slate, and it arrives as teams push for early momentum in pool play. The next confirmed game involving Japan is against Australia at 6: 00 a. m. ET tomorrow; other pool games listed for the day will proceed on the published schedule.
