Japan Celebrates Victory over USA in World Baseball Classic

Japan's national baseball team defeated the United States Tuesday night in Miami to win the World Baseball Classic¹ (WBC) for the third time. The final score was 3-2.

The team's star player, Shohei Ohtani, pitched the final inning. He recorded the last out by striking² out his Los Angeles Angels teammate, Mike Trout³. Some experts consider them the two best players in the world. It was the first time they ever faced each other.

Ohtani is a special player because he is both one of the best pitchers⁵ and one of the best hitters in baseball. He won the tournament's Most Valuable Player award for his hitting and pitching during the two-week event.

After the game, Ohtani said on the worldwide television broadcast, "I believe this is the best moment in my life."

Fans in Japan celebrated⁶ as Ohtani threw the final pitch early Wednesday Tokyo time. Over 100 people gathered near the Shimbashi Station area to get special printings of a newspaper with the game result. Police helped control the crowd and passed out copies.

Yuji Takeno, 33, was there. "I am so proud as a Japanese national," he said. "I also play baseball (for fun) ... and it makes me want to work harder, that's how well they played."

Sho Ishii, 29, watched the game on a large screen at a public viewing event near Tokyo Tower. "Thank you Ohtani, thank you samurai Team Japan!" he shouted after the final pitch.

The words "Nihon yusho," which mean "Japan victory," became the number one subject of a discussion⁷ on Twitter in Japan.

Ohtani did not win the game on his own. Japan's pitchers set the record for the most strikeouts in the WBC. They contained a strong USA team that had scored 23 runs in its previous two games.

Robert Whiting writes about Japanese baseball. He said Japan may have the three best pitchers in the world and called Ohtani "charismatic."

The baseball seasons in both the United States and Japan start on March 30.

Words in This Story

teammate–n. a member of the same work or sports team or group

award–n. a prize or honor⁸

moment–n. a single event in one's life

proud –adj. a strong feeling of happiness or satisfaction about an accomplishment⁹

strikeout–n. the act in baseball when a pitcher⁴ throws the ball past the batter¹⁰ to get an out

previous –adj. something that happened earlier, or before the current time

charismatic –adj. used to describe a person who is special or talented

1 classic   

n.经典作品；adj.经典的，一流的；古典的

参考例句：

• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。
• The football match was a classic.那场足球比赛堪称典范。

2 striking   

adj.显著的，惹人注目的，容貌出众的

参考例句：

• There is a striking difference between Jane and Mary.简和玛丽之间有显著的差异。
• What is immediately striking is how resourceful the children are.最令人注目的是孩子们的机智聪明。

3 trout   

n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属)

参考例句：

• Thousands of young salmon and trout have been killed by the pollution.成千上万的鲑鱼和鳟鱼的鱼苗因污染而死亡。
• We hooked a trout and had it for breakfast.我们钓了一条鳟鱼，早饭时吃了。

4 pitcher   

n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手

参考例句：

• He poured the milk out of the pitcher.他从大罐中倒出牛奶。
• Any pitcher is liable to crack during a tight game.任何投手在紧张的比赛中都可能会失常。

5 pitchers   

大水罐( pitcher的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Over the next five years, he became one of the greatest pitchers in baseball. 在接下来的5年时间里，他成为了最了不起的棒球投手之一。
• Why he probably won't: Pitchers on also-rans can win the award. 为什麽不是他得奖：投手在失败的球队可以赢得赛扬奖。

6 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

7 discussion   

n.讨论，谈论；论述

参考例句：

• It is certain he will come to the discussion.他肯定会来参加讨论。
• After months of discussion,a peace agreement is gradually taking shape.经过几个月的商讨，和平协议渐渐有了眉目。

8 honor   

n.光荣；敬意；荣幸；vt.给…以荣誉；尊敬

参考例句：

• I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
• It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。

9 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

10 batter   

v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员

参考例句：

• The batter skied to the center fielder.击球手打出一个高飞球到中外野手。
• Put a small quantity of sugar into the batter.在面糊里放少量的糖。