Major League Baseball

Japan-Czech Republic highlights: Japan punches ticket to WBC quarterfinals

Updated Mar. 11, 2023 1:39 p.m. ET

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The World Baseball Classic continued Saturday morning with Japan defeating the Czech Republic 10-2 in Pool B play.

The Czech Republic actually held the lead first in Saturday's matchup, scoring a run in the first inning off an error by Japan. But a three-run third inning and a four-run fourth inning propelled Japan to victory, moving to 3-0 in Pool B.

With Saturday's win, Japan advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic.

Japan still has one more Pool B game left before the knockout stage though. It faces Australia on Sunday morning. 

Here are the top plays from Saturday's game!

FINAL: Japan 10, Czech Republic 2

Error opens up the scoring

Takumu Nakano's wild throw from shortstop with two outs in the first allowed the runner from second base to score to give the Czech Republic a 1-0 lead.

Out of the jam!

Ondrej Satoria got out of the bases-loaded jam in the second to keep Japan scoreless.

Big defensive play!

Martin Muzik's dive prevented a base hit for Japan to open up the bottom of the third inning.

Japan out in front

Masataka Yoshida hit a double in the third that knocked in two runners and he scored on a base hit by Tetsuto Yamada to make it 3-1 Japan.

Japan has a four-run fourth inning

Japan had a very active fourth inning. Lars Nootbaar, Kensuke Kondoh and Shohei Ohtani all had RBI hits in the inning to make it 6-1.

After his double, Ohtani stole third base, which allowed him to score on a sac fly by Yoshida to make it 7-1. 

Picked off!

Hiroya Miyagi picked off Eric Sogard at second base to end the top of the fifth inning after the Czech Republic got one run back to make it a 7-2 game.

Two-out knock

Taisei Makihara got a base hit the other way to score another run for Japan and make it 8-2 in the fifth. 

Big double play for the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic turned two at a much-needed time with the bases loaded in the sixth, ending the inning.

Add it to the board

Shugo Maki hit a solo shot in the eighth inning to add to Japan's lead, making it 9-2 as it inches closer to a quarterfinals berth.

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WBC - Czech Republic vs. Japan - 03/11/2023