Ichiro a Hero as Japan Wins 2009 WBC

When Japan needed a big hit to win their second straight World Baseball Classic, they got the needed hit from their biggest star. Ichiro, who has been one of the best baseball players in the world over the last decade, hit a single in the top of the tenth inning to score two runs for Japan.

Ichiro a Hero for Japan (Image: Newscom)

After ending South Korea’s chances in the bottom of the 10th, Japan became successful in their bid to go 2-for-2 in the World Baseball Classic. In 2006, they won the inaugural WBC event.

Japan got up early in this ballgame but could never put South Korea away. After gaining a 1-0 lead, South Korea tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. Japan scored once in the top of the seventh and top of the eighth, however South Korea forced extra innings by scoring a run in the bottom of the eighth and the bottom of the ninth.

Ichiro’s big hit came with runners on second and third for Japan. The hit was Ichiro’s fourth of the game in six at-bats. Now Ichiro gets to go to Japan as a hero and a two-time World Baseball Classic champion.