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Weeks of exciting international baseball all came down to this: USA vs. Japan. Shohei Ohtani vs. Mike Trout — for the World Baseball Classic title.

The final game of the 2023 WBC, between the tournament’s two most dominant teams, ended with the matchup everyone was hoping to see. Ohtani struck out his Los Angeles Angels teammate in the ninth inning to close out a 3-2 victory for Japan. The win gives Japan its third WBC title and ends Team USA’s quest for a repeat crown.

We have you covered with everything you need to know for the WBC grand finale, from best moments to postgame takeaways.

Baseball world reacts to Japan’s WBC victory


Takeaways from the WBC final

What went right for Japan?

It utilized its bullpen perfectly — for the fans, considering the epic matchup that finished this tournament, but mostly to set itself up for a win. There were questions around why Yu Darvish didn’t start, but Shota Imanaga held the U.S. to one run in the first two innings and the bullpen took it from there. In all, seven pitchers were utilized, six of whom are starters. Darvish pitched the eighth inning, nearly giving up the lead, and paved the way for Shohei Ohtani, who walked to the bullpen after sliding into second base on a double play. He tossed a few warm-up pitches, checked back into the game — and recorded the save. — Alden Gonzalez

What went wrong for the U.S.?

Team USA simply didn’t capitalize on run-scoring opportunities. And in a game with such a small margin for error, against a team with so much talent, that proved to be the difference. The U.S. went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, its worst mark ever in the World Baseball Classic. In the second, third, fifth and seventh innings, they had two runners on base who failed to score. In the ninth, Jeff McNeil drew a leadoff walk against Ohtani, but Mookie Betts bounced into a double play and Mike Trout struck out — whiffing on a full-count slider after getting four consecutive 100-mph fastballs. — Gonzalez

We finally got the at-bat we’d all been waiting for. What was your favorite part of Ohtani vs. Trout?

That Ohtani came with a slider. Trout saw four consecutive 100-plus mile-and-hour fastballs in his epic ninth-inning showdown against his two-way teammate. The count had run full, Japan led by a single run. Everyone in the building probably thought Ohtani would challenge Trout with another fastball. Instead, he flipped a slider, his third-most-utilized pitch in 2022, and Trout swung way early. — Gonzalez

The utter perfection of the entire situation. Getting Ohtani vs. Trout in any situation would’ve been a treat. Getting Ohtani vs. Trout in a one-run game with two outs in the ninth inning and watching it go to a full count with the championship on the line is a 100th-percentile outcome. Sometimes sports moments unfold with drama and stakes that don’t seem real. This was real, and it was spectacular. — Jeff Passan

Was there a managerial decision in the final that left you scratching your head?

The use of Yu Darvish. He was lined up to start, and he had only accumulated five innings throughout this World Baseball Classic, scant enough usage for the Padres to worry whether he’d be prepared for Opening Day. Instead, Darvish waited in the bullpen, acted as a setup reliever and clearly was not sharp in the eighth inning. Maybe Japan knew something the rest of us didn’t. — Gonzalez

As excellent a defensive outfielder as Cedric Mullins is, his six plate appearances in the WBC going into the championship game were the third-fewest on Team USA, ahead of only third catcher Kyle Higashioka and 22-year-old Bobby Witt Jr. So to see him get the start and relegate Pete Alonso to the bench came as a surprise. Manager Mark DeRosa said he wanted Mullins in for the defensive upgrade he provided, but he wound up going 0 for 4 on a night when offense was in short supply. — Passan

What will be your lasting impression of this WBC?

That the players bought in. That the energy in the ballpark was incredible. That the tournament somehow exceeded the lofty expectations it carried heading into it. This year’s World Baseball Classic will undoubtedly grow the game throughout the world. It’ll grow the game in Mexico, thanks to a Randy Arozarena-led team that exceeded expectations. It’ll grow the game in places like the Czech Republic and Taiwan, which produced record viewership. And, one would think, it’ll grow the game in the United States, where the excitement was palpable. — Gonzalez

Perhaps it’s recency bias, but this felt different than past WBCs — bigger, more important. The ultimate test of this will come not only in players who commit for 2026 or television ratings the next time around but a dozen years from now, when the major leaguers at the time point to the 2023 WBC as a moment from their childhood they remember the same way Japan star Munetaka Murakami said he wanted to play in the tournament after watching it in 2009. — Passan

What are you most looking forward to in the 2026 WBC?

There’s one big step that needs to be taken in this tournament: Fewer restrictions on pitchers. It’s understandable; this tournament come at a time when pitchers need to be building up innings for the regular season, and any break from that schedule can significantly throw them off for April. The next step for the World Baseball Classic is for major league teams to let pitchers prioritize this tournament while it’s happening — so long as they’re careful enough to avoid injury — then simply re-calibrate once they return to spring training. Easier said than done, probably. — Gonzalez

More buy-in. From major league teams who could easily use the Edwin Diaz and Jose Altuve injuries as excuses to cajole players into skipping the tournament. From front-end pitchers who saw Japan trotting out Ohtani, Roki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Darvish and know their country wasn’t doing the same. From fans who need to stop treating the event as if it’s just an exhibition, rather than an exhibition with meaning. From networks who can promote games on channels with the largest possible audiences. There’s a clear path to making the WBC bigger and better. All it will take is commitment. — Passan


Relive the best WBC final moments

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Landeskog scores 1st NHL goal in nearly 3 years

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Landeskog scores 1st NHL goal in nearly 3 years

Perhaps the only detail more emphatic than the goals in the Colorado Avalanche‘s 4-0 win over the Dallas Stars Saturday night, was the impact provided by their captain, Gabriel Landeskog.

Landeskog, who returned in Game 3 of this Western Conference first-round series after missing nearly three seasons while recovering from a knee injury, scored his first goal since June 20, 2022, in a multi-point performance that saw the Avalanche tie the series at 2-2 in Game 4 at Ball Arena. Game 5 is Monday in Dallas.

“It means a lot,” Landeskog told reporters after the win. “Obviously, I’ve envisioned scoring again for a long time. There obviously days when I didn’t know if I was ever going to score again. It obviously feels good. It’s a tight playoff series in a big game here at home. To get to do it here at home in front of our fans obviously means a means a lot. Super exciting. Hopefully more to come.”

A short-handed goal from Logan O’Connor midway through the first period followed by a late power-play goal from Nathan MacKinnon staked the Avalanche to a 2-0 lead entering the second period.

That set the stage for Landeskog, who was in the slot when Brock Nelson fed a pass that the 32-year-old winger launched for a one-timer that beat Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger for a 3-0 lead.

Landeskog, who was playing on the second line, was instantly mobbed by his teammates on the nice such as Samuel Girard, Valeri Nichushkin, Devon Toews and Nelson, who joined the Avalanche at the NHL trade deadline.

As Landeskog returned to the bench, he was congratulated by the entire team which also included a hug from a smiling MacKinnon, who along with Landeskog, have been with the franchise for more than a decade.

“I was just proud of him again,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar told reporters after the game. “I was proud of him regardless of if he scores or not because I know what he’s gone through, and I know how difficult that was. I think that takes it to another level. You know he wants to come back and contribute like he did in the past and he’s off to a great start.”

Landeskog’s goal was the latest milestone in what’s been a lengthy recovery from a chronically injured right knee. He missed what amounted to 1,032 days since his last NHL game.

In that time, the Avalanche have remained in a championship window but have dramatically altered their roster. The Avs have nine players from that championship team who have remained with the franchise and have since reshuffled a roster that led to them re-acquiring defenseman Erik Johnson, one of Landeskog’s closest friends, in their bid for the fourth title in franchise history.

Even with all the changes, there were still questions about when they could see Landeskog return to the lineup. And if Landeskog did return, what he could look like?

His first professional game in three years came April 11 with the Avalanche’s AHL affiliate where he logged 15 minutes. Landeskog would then score a goal and get an assist in his second and final game.

And much like his AHL stint, all it took was two games for Landeskog to score and have another two-point performance.

While Landeskog’s goal became the most celebrated moment of the evening, what he did to help create the Avalanche’s fourth goal was an example of why he’s so crucial to their title aspirations.

Landeskog played a pass to Nelson who then found a Girard for a shot from the point that gave the Avs a 4-0 lead in the fourth. In the time Landeskog passed the puck, he anchored himself at the net front to gain position on 6-foot-7 Stars defensemen Lian Bichsel to screen goaltender Casey DeSmith, who replaced Oettinger for the third period.

Jockeying with Bichsel, who is six inches taller and 16 pounds heavier, allowed Landeskog to test both his strength and that right knee to gain leverage.

The result? Girard’s shot found space in traffic with Landeskog making it hard for DeSmith to see the puck.

“He’s a big boy,” Landeskog said with a smile. “He’s a big strong guy, a physical player and hard to play against. I was trying to get in front of their goal, and he was trying to get me out of there. It was a good battle.”

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Duran steals home, leaves Red Sox in amazement

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Duran steals home, leaves Red Sox in amazement

CLEVELAND — Jarren Duran barely had time to catch his breath after tripling in the third inning. It didn’t matter, he had already made up his mind to run again.

Duran pulled off Boston’s first straight steal of home plate in exactly 16 years, scoring on the next pitch from Doug Nikhazy as the Red Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday.

“(Third base coach Kyle Hudson) heard him tell the umpire that he was working from the stretch, so I decided I was going to go on the first pitch,” Duran said. “It was just to keep the offense going and cause a little chaos. I knew I had it.”

As Nikhazy went from the windup, Duran broke for home. He slid headfirst and slapped his right hand on the plate ahead of Bo Naylor‘s tag. Umpire Brock Ballou’s safe call was upheld in a video review.

“Under the new rules, he’s kind of the perfect player,” Boston manager Alex Cora said of Duran. “We saw a window there and he took advantage of the situation.”

It marked the first straight steal of home plate by the Red Sox since Jacoby Ellsbury against the Yankees on April 26, 2009. Duran’s two previous thefts of home were part of double steals last season at Tampa Bay on May 21 and at the White Sox on June 7.

“It was really a cool play and a cool sequence of events there,” Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler said. “He’s one of the most exciting players in baseball. After watching him from afar, it’s been fun to see him up close this season.”

Nikhazy, a 25-year-old left-hander, was making his major league debut and had already allowed five runs in 2 2/3 innings. With Rafael Devers in the batter’s box, he said he took “a peek” at Duran before delivering the ball.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt praised Duran for making “a head’s up baseball play” because third baseman José Ramírez was off the line, but his starting pitcher blamed himself.

“He had taken a big jump and he took off immediately,” Nikhazy said. “In the moment, I chose to make the pitch as opposed to stepping off. Ultimately, when I saw him, I should have stepped off.”

Duran went 3 for 5 with three runs and two RBI in the nightcap. He was hitless in four at-bats in the first game, which Cleveland won 5-4.

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Mariners shut down Gilbert (elbow) for 2 weeks

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Mariners shut down Gilbert (elbow) for 2 weeks

The Seattle Mariners placed right-hander Logan Gilbert on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right elbow flexor strain.

The All-Star pitcher left his start Friday night against the Miami Marlins after three perfect innings because of right forearm tightness.

An MRI revealed a Grade 1 flexor strain, the team said. Gilbert won’t throw for two weeks, at which point he’ll be reevaluated.

Gilbert, 24, entered Friday’s game with a 1-1 record, 2.37 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 20⅓ innings. He is 42-31 with a 3.55 ERA in five big league seasons, all with the Mariners.

In other moves announced Saturday, Seattle recalled left-hander Tayler Saucedo and right-hander Troy Taylor from Triple-A Tacoma, and designated righty Casey Lawrence for assignment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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