Sports News

Holders Japan out of the World Baseball Classic in the quarter-finals for the first time

Defending champions Japan were knocked out of the World Baseball Classic on Saturday, 14 March, losing 8-5 to Venezuela in the quarter-finals at LoanDepot Park in Miami. It was the first time Japan, three-time winners, had failed to reach the semi-finals, Nippon.com reported, carrying Jiji Press.

Shohei Ohtani hit a solo home run in the first inning to tie the game, and Shota Morishita's three-run homer in the third gave Japan a 5-2 lead. Venezuela scored twice in the fifth, then took a 7-5 lead with a three-run home run off Hiromi Ito in the sixth, and added another run in the eighth.

“Although we lost this time, I hope Japan will grow stronger and win next time.” — Hirokazu Ibata, via Fox Sports

Fox Sports, carrying AP, led with manager Hirokazu Ibata saying he would step down, citing a Sports Hochi report of his “intention to resign”. It noted Japan had won all four pool games in Tokyo, against Taiwan, South Korea, Australia and the Czech Republic, with a roster stacked with major league talent. An AP feature carried by the Eagle-Tribune pointed to the contrast with 2023: Ohtani ended this Classic as he did that one, but as a loser rather than a champion.

How each outlet framed it

• Nippon.com (Jiji Press) — the inning-by-inning collapse and a historic first.
• Fox Sports (AP) — the manager's exit.
• Eagle-Tribune (AP) — Ohtani, from champion to early exit.

What happened next: Venezuela went on to reach the final in the same stadium.