Shohei Ohtani’s grand slam and five RBIs power Japan past Chinese Taipei in WBC opener

Japan opened its 2026 World Baseball Classic campaign on a note of authority, and unsurprisingly, Shohei Ohtani took center stage in it. In front of a buzzing crowd at the Tokyo Dome, the Los Angeles Dodgers superstar designated hitter played one of the most electric moments in the early tournament, blasting a second-inning grand slam and finishing with five RBIs to help Samurai Japan deliver a dominant, 13-0 win, over Chinese Taipei. The performance set the tone for the title defense for Japan and was a reminder as to why Ohtani is still the biggest global star in the sport. By the time the dust settled, the game had already become a celebration of the depth of Japan's offense and the unmatched talent of Ohtani dominating baseball's biggest stages.

Ohtani fires up record-breaking inning for Samurai Japan

The turning point arrived in the second inning when Ohtani came up to bat with the bases loaded. Facing Chinese Taipei pitcher Cheng Hao-Chun, the Japanese star smashed a huge grand slam to right field, which immediately fired the Tokyo Dome crowd and put the game squarely in Japan's favor. The blast caused an incredible offensive surge.
Japan exploded for 10 runs during the inning, a World Baseball Classic record to be sure, and effectively ended the contest before any development into a competitive battle. Ohtani went on to add an RBI single during the same inning, giving him a total of five runs batted in one of the best innings recorded during the tournament. Ohtani ended the game 3-for-4 at the plate, bringing a double to his playing line and simultaneously threatening the Chinese Taipei pitching staff. His ability to have an immediate impact on the game added further credence to why Japan built its lineup around the two-way superstar going into the tournament.

Japan's defense of the title begins with a statement

While Ohtani's bat made headlines, the rest of the Japanese team demonstrated why the team came into the tournament as defending champions. Pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto set the tone on the mound, throwing 2⅔ scoreless innings and not giving Chinese Taipei any chance to get started. Japan's offense continued to pile up with contributions from all parts of its lineup. Sosuke Genda drove in several times, and other hitters such as Masataka Yoshida and Kazuma Okamoto continued to put pressure on with timely hits. By the third inning, the score was 13-0, and the game eventually finished after seven innings, under the mercy rule provision in the organization's tournament.

Beyond the scoreline, the opener was a reminder of Ohtani's special gift, raising the atmosphere of this international game. Even in pregame batting practice, the two-time MVP entertained thousands of fans with several home runs he launched into the stands, creating the canvas for even more fireworks in the following games. For Japan, the victory stands for more than just a good start. It's a sign that Samurai Japan is still a force to be reckoned with in the international baseball world, and, with Ohtani at the helm, their pursuit of another World Baseball Classic title has already begun, in spectacular fashion.


Get the latest ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, IND vs ENG Live Score updates, including the full schedule, teams, points table, and key series stats such as top run-scorers and wicket-takers.