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Masataka Yoshida plays big role to help Japan rally, avoid upset vs. Australia
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- Masataka Yoshida plays big role to help Japan rally, avoid upset vs. Australia
Masataka Yoshida continued his strong start in the World Baseball Classic by homering in two consecutive games.
The Boston Red Sox designated hitter played a key role in Japan’s win over Australia to avoid a massive upset.
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Down 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh, Yoshida sent an 0-2 slider from Jon Kennedy a projected 394 feet out of the park to give Japan a 2-1 lead.
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Watch the home run here
Japan went on to win, 4-3.
The clutch home run came after Yoshida hit a no-doubter against Korea .
Yoshida has two home runs, six RBI and a 1.783 OPS thus far in the tournament. His 13 RBI in the World Baseball Classic is a tournament record. Should Japan make it as far as it did in its title run in ‘23, Yoshida will be on pace to break his record.
The surge in power comes during a time when Yoshida’s role is unknown with the Red Sox. After missing most of 2025 after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2024, Yoshida seems to be the odd man out .
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The 32-year-old struggled in the outfield, and Boston already has enough of a logjam with Alex Cora having to juggle Jarren Duran , Wilyer Abreu , Ceddanne Rafaela and Roman Anthony . Yoshida also doesn’t boast the type of power that every-day DH’s usually have.
Japan continues its WBC with a game against Czechia on Tuesday at 6 a.m.
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