Japan Strengthens Quarterfinal Odds After 8-6 Win Over Korea — Kayo Sports
Sunday at 8: 00 a. m. ET, Pool C shifts into a two-team race: Japan’s 8-6 victory leaves Japan and Australia both 2-0, increasing the urgency of their upcoming meeting and putting Korea’s path to the quarterfinals in jeopardy. Kayo Sports captured the live matchup listing that led fans to the game.
Kayo Sports: Seiya Suzuki’s two homers turn tide in Tokyo Dome
Seiya Suzuki hit two home runs and Japan totaled four homers in the game that ended 8-6, directly producing a scoreboard swing that moved Japan back ahead late. Atsuki Taneichi earned the win and Taisei Ota recorded the save; Yeong Hyun Park was charged with the loss.
Tokyo Dome slugfest leaves Japan and Australia tied 2-0 in Pool C
Japan and Australia sit at 2-0 in Pool C play and are now the clear favorites to advance to the quarterfinals, a status that makes their Sunday meeting decisive for seeding and momentum. Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida each hit solo home runs for Japan, and Ohtani had hit a grand slam in Japan’s 13-0 victory over Chinese Taipei on Friday.
Korea’s early lead unraveled after first-inning surge and late runs
Korea built a 3-0 lead in the top of the first off starter Yusei Kikuchi, punctuated by singles from Do Yeong Kim, Jahmai Jones and Jung Hoo Lee and a two-run double by Bo Gyeong Moon. Suzuki’s two-run homer in the bottom of the first cut the deficit to 3-2 and began Japan’s comeback.
Japan then surged in the third inning with consecutive solo homers from Ohtani, Suzuki and Yoshida to take a 5-3 lead, but Korea answered in the fourth when Hyeseong Kim hit a two-run homer off Hiromi Itoh to tie the game at 5-5. Through four innings the teams had combined for five home runs, underlining the game’s offensive nature.
Japan reclaimed control in the seventh when reliever Young Kyu Kim walked Suzuki with the bases loaded, forcing in a run, and Yoshida followed with a single that scored two more, turning a close game into an 8-5 lead. Korea scored once in the eighth to make it 8-6 but left the bases loaded after Yuki Matsumoto struck out Hyeseong Kim.
Notable attendees included New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye at Saturday’s game; earlier appearances at the tournament included Timothée Chalamet and Bad Bunny on Friday. Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei earned its first tournament win when Stuart Fairchild hit a second-inning grand slam in a 14-0 mercy-rule victory over Czechia.
For Japan, the immediate consequence is clearer seeding leverage in Pool C and a momentum advantage entering the head-to-head with Australia; for Korea, the loss creates a must-win scenario against Chinese Taipei to keep quarterfinal hopes alive. That shift alters pitching plans and roster usage for all three teams as the pool stage continues.
What could reverse or accelerate these standings: the scheduled Japan-Australia game on Sunday will be decisive for Pool C; if Japan wins, it would move further toward an early quarterfinal berth, while an Australian victory would re-open the pool and put pressure back on Japan. More details, including the official game time, are expected Sunday at 8: 00 a. m. ET.
