Japan’s Shohei Ohtani runs after hitting a double against Chinese Taipei in the World Baseball Classic on Friday in Tokyo. Photo by Franck Robichon/EPA
Shohei Ohtani recorded a grand slam and five RBIs in one inning to highlight a record thrashing of Chinese Taipei on Friday in Japan’s World Baseball Classic opener.
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ sensation went 3 for 4 in the 13-0 mercy-rule, Pool C triumph at the Tokyo Dome. Ohtani set a tournament record for the most RBIs in a single inning.
The Japan pitching staff no-hit their opening foes through five innings. It allowed just one hit and issued five walks and eight strikeouts in the blowout.
Ohtani doubled on the first pitch of the night from Chinese Taipei starter Hao-Chun Cheng. He returned to the plate with the bases loaded in the second inning.
The designated hitter/pitcher proceeded to splinter a 76.8-mph Cheng curveball to right field for a 368-foot grand slam for Japan’s first runs of the tournament.
SHOHEI OHTANI GRAND SLAM! #WORLDBASEBALLCLASSIC pic.twitter.com/z0BXjlYInF— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 6, 2026
The defending champions piled on Chinese Taipei with six more runs in the 28-minute frame, setting a tournament record for the most runs scored in a single inning.
Ohtani raked an RBI single to right field for the final run of the outburst. He finished the night just a triple shy of the cycle.
Japan plated the final three runs of the game in the third inning. The game was called in the seventh due to tournament rules, which allow for an automatic victory if a team leads by 10 or more after seven innings.
Japan shortstop Sosuke Genda went 3 for 3 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Left fielder Masataka Yoshida went 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Third baseman Kazuma Okamoto, first baseman Munetaka Murakami and catcher Kenya Wakatsuki also drove in runs for Japan.
Bases loaded Shohei Ohtani at the plate
What else did you expect? pic.twitter.com/bfN2qheoRV— MLB (@MLB) March 6, 2026
Cheng allowed five hits and eight runs over 1 2/3 innings. Japan starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Ohtani’s Dodgers teammate and the reigning World Series MVP, did not allow a hit or a run over 2 2/3 innings.
Japan will take on Korea in another pool play matchup at 5 a.m. EST Saturday in Tokyo. Chinese Taipei will meet Czechia at 10 p.m. Friday in Tokyo.
The World Baseball Classic finale will be held March 17 in Miami.
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