Japan defends their World Baseball Classic crown, tops South Korea

Japan finally outlasted resilient South Korea in the 10th inning to defend their crown and capture the 2009 World Baseball Classic 5 -3 in a classic battle of two of most fundamentally sound baseball teams in the world.

Ichiro Suzuki carried the Samurai side over the pesky South Koreans with a 2 RBI double in the top of the 10th to put Japan up 5 - 3. Japanese phenom, 22 year-old Yu Darvish finished off the South Koreans with a strike out after giving the tying run on the 9th inning.

For most of the game, Japan outhit the Koreans. But the Koreans' defense kept holding out from breaking away.

Ogasawara started the scoring with  single RBI on the top of the 3rd inning. With bases loaded and only one out, the Koreans came out with a double play to end the inning only down by 1.

On the next inning, Japan once again threatened to have a wide lead but the Koreans came up with a strikeout double play.

Fired up with their great defense, the South Korean sides tied the game up when Shin Soo Choo homers again Iwakuma who retired the first 11 batters he faced, striking out 4.

At the bottom of the sixth inning, Iwakuma walks lead off hitter  y k lee.  Then Iwakuma and Catcher Jojihma came up with a strikeout double play of their own to end the inning.

On the top of the 7th inning, Kataoka leads with a single and stoles 2nd base. Ichiro then produces a perfect bunt to reach first base and move Kataoka to 3rd. Nakajima singles next to bring Kataoka home, Japan up 2 - 1.  The Koreans once more came up with  a spectacular catch and another double play to end Japan's threat. The Korean batters that came to the plate all flew out to the field with Uchikawa coming up with two left field catches.

Japan added another run on the top of the 8th with a sac fly RBI for a 3 - 1 lead. Korea answers back with a sacrifice fly of their own to inch closer 3 - 2.

Sugiuchi replaces starting pitcher Iwakuma at the plate to finish the inning and protect the one run lead.

At the top of the 9th, Ichiro leads with a double off pitcher C Y Lim.  Second Baseman Y M Ko takes a way a base hit from Nakajima with a spectacular diving catch and holds Ichiro on 2nd base.  Then the Koreans intentionally walks Aoki. Kenji Johjima flies out to center while Ogasawara struck.

On the 9th inning, Japan put the young phenom Yu Darvish to close out the Koreans. 

After striking out the first batter, Darvish yields two walks before striking out another. With only one out left, Bum Ho Lee hits an rbi single to tie the game.

Darvish makes amend by striking out the next batter and game goes to extra innings.

Uchikawa leads in the 10th inning with a single. Inaba grounds out next but moves Uchikawa on scoring position. Iwamura connects on a base hit as Japan once again has two on bases. Pinch hitter Kawasaki flies out to center. 

Then it was Ichiro's moment.

After being down 2 strikes, Ichiro comes up with a 2 RBI double to give the lead back to Japan. He even stole 3rd base. The next Japanese batter was hit on the hips was also able to steal 2nd base. Aoki was intentionally walked to load the bases. But Jojihma struck out again to end their inning.

Yu Darvish once again on the mound to close out the Koreans and quickly gives a lead-off walk. But he struck out the next batter, forces the next batter to fly out to center and then finished off the koreans with another strikeout.

Japan wins the World Baseball Classic 2009 and the first two.

Daisuke Matsuzaka once again was named MVP of the tournament after going 6 - 6 in his WBC career and now 2 of 2 MVPss. But definitely for the finals, Ichiro should be the best player.