MIAMI When Shohei Ohtani reached second base after hitting a leadoff double in the bottom of the ninth inning, he immediately looked up at the crowd and waved his arms, in a rare sign of emotion, as if he knew what was coming next.
Ohtani’s clutch hit sparked a late rally, and moments later Munetaka Murakami delivered a walk-off, two-run double to lift Japan past Mexico 6-5 on Monday night and into the World Baseball Classic final.
The WBC gives fans a chance to watch the best players international baseball has to offer, and Samurai Japan presents a particularly star-studded group .
The Tigers, seeking their first Central League pennant in 16 years, trail the Tokyo Yakult Swallows by a game after Saturday's impressive win over the Dragons.