Satoria shines in swansong game but Japan end on high with win over Czech Republic

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/satoria-ondrej/QJFm4185/"]Satoria[/a], the famous electrical worker from Ostrava, lit up the World Baseball Classic three years ago after striking out [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ohtani-shohei/QoeWGRko/"]Shohei Ohtani,[/a] and back in Tokyo, he was at his slippery best once more.[/p][p]The 29-year-old announced he would be retiring from international duty on Monday, saying it was "the right time" to step away, having become a recognised star in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/vuZGJUZ0/"]Japan[/a].[/p][p]Stepping onto the mound, he showed none of the emotion that comes with saying goodbye, instead keeping a lineup without Ohtani quiet through 4.2 innings of work. His pitch mix, which rarely goes above 80mph, was deadly, throwing off batters' timing throughout his pitching.[/p][p]He struck out three, including new [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/toronto-blue-jays/zcDLaZ3b/"]Toronto Blue Jays[/a] third baseman [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/okamoto-kazuma/2iphqXCP/"]Kazumu Okamoto[/a], and gave up just six hits in the outing.[/p][p]His coach, Pavel Chadim, came to get him in the fifth inning, and his teammates all acknowledged his work with the Tokyo crowd rising for Satoria.[/p][p]The visibly emotional left-hander took his time to leave the field, soaking in one last moment on the big stage.[/p][embed guid="e03a232a-27d3-43b3-8613-fd8408ec97d9" url="https://x.com/MLB/status/2031334803849576819" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Czech side, who had not won a game during pool play, would finish bottom of the group no matter the result, meaning they would have to re-qualify for the next iteration of the Classic.[/p][p]But, they were crisp in the field and backed up Satoria well, to keep it scoreless through six innings. [/p][p]Their bats, a weakness in this WBC, struggled once again, with Japanese starter [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/takahashi-hiroto/jRI6pRPM/"]Hiroto Takahashi[/a] matching Satoria's effort with 4.2 innings pitched, five strikeouts and just two hits given up.[/p][p]Their pitchers were keeping them in the game. After Satoria's heroics, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kovala-michal/IXhbqWha/"]Michal Kovala[/a] came into the game and carried on the shutout. Even with a runner on third for Japan and just one out, he was able to get a strikeout and a flyout to take the contest into the eighth, still without a run.[/p][p]Japan had not lost in the WBC since 2017, and as hopes of a massive shock were starting to rise, they dashed them in the bottom of the eighth inning.[/p][p]Kenya Watatsuki hit a double down the right field line, getting Teruaki Sato into scoring position. He was being held at third by his coach, but a throwing error from William Escala allowed Sato to trot home and score the first run of the day.[/p][p]With Kovala now struggling to find his rhythm, Ukyo Shuto made him pay to break the game open, smashing a three-run home run 367 feet into the stands to all but end the contest.[/p][embed guid="27c2914b-e0e0-471c-bb0f-02d6215bf928" url="https://x.com/WBCBaseball/status/2031344773978546393" social-type="twitter" /][p]Japan would load the bases with two outs and continued the damage in the same inning. Munetaka Murakami hit a grand slam over centre field to give the home fans the perfect way to see their team off in style.[/p][embed guid="0c408b69-1c31-412b-92d7-1e1c6b7a7f8e" url="https://x.com/WBCBaseball/status/2031348130524873030" social-type="twitter" /][p]Scoreless after seven, incredibly now 9-0 up in the eighth, Japan had the opportunity to 'mercy rule' the game, but they were unable to get that extra run to end the contest.[/p][p]It was little trouble for Koki Kitayama, who struck out the Czech side, to see Japan's winning run continue.[/p][p]With Pool C now over, Japan and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-korea/2XIeMWkr/"]South Korea[/a] both head to the United States for the quarter-finals as the top two sides, whilst [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/h2RcNuiG/"]Australia[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chinese-taipei/WpW7PCsR/"]Chinese Taipei[/a] will return for the next WBC after finishing third and fourth in the five-team group.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/baseball/world/world-baseball-classic/"]Follow the World Baseball Classic with Flashscore.[/a][/p]