Ohtani Shines in Japan’s 13-0 Victory Over Chinese Taipei at World Baseball Classic

In a dazzling display of power and precision, Shohei Ohtani propelled Japan to a commanding 13-0 victory over Chinese Taipei in their opening game of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The reigning National League MVP showcased his offensive prowess, falling just a triple shy of the cycle in a contest that saw Japan break records.

The atmosphere was electric at the Tokyo Dome, where a sell-out crowd of 42,314 fans witnessed Ohtani’s explosive start. He wasted no time making his mark, launching a double down the right-field line on the first pitch he faced, registering an impressive exit velocity of 117.1 mph. This moment set the tone for a game that would quickly turn into an offensive explosion.

Although Japan was held scoreless in the first inning, the floodgates opened in the second. Following a series of singles and a hit-by-pitch, Ohtani stepped to the plate with the bases loaded. On a 2-1 pitch from Chinese Taipei pitcher Hao-Chun Cheng, Ohtani connected with a curveball, sending it soaring for a grand slam that traveled 368 feet. The crowd erupted as the scoreboard lit up.

Japan’s offense didn’t stop there, tacking on five more runs in the second inning alone, fueled by Ohtani’s run-scoring single against pitcher Chih-Wei Hu. By the end of the inning, Ohtani had already racked up five RBIs, setting a new World Baseball Classic record for the most runs scored by a team in a single inning, surpassing the previous record held by the U.S. and Cuba. His individual five RBIs in that inning also marked a new record.

As the game progressed, Japan extended its lead to 13-0 by the conclusion of the third inning. Despite his remarkable performance, Ohtani’s day came to an end after he lined out to first base in his fourth at-bat. He was subsequently pinch-hit for by Teruaki Sato in the seventh inning, with the game concluding due to the mercy rule.

Looking ahead, Japan will face Korea on Saturday at 5 a.m. ET, while Chinese Taipei will take on Czechia later that evening at 10 p.m. ET. The stage is set for more thrilling moments as the World Baseball Classic unfolds.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.