Shohei Ohtani grand slam leads Japan to WBC rout over Taiwan - ESPN

Japanese fans don't get to see Shohei Ohtani in person very often. They got an eyeful Friday in a sellout at the Tokyo Dome.

Ohtani hit a grand slam in the second inning as Japan hammered Taiwan 13-0 in Pool C at the World Baseball Classic. It was Japan's first game of four in pool play.

The game was called after seven innings under the mercy rule, which is being used in the WBC. The game is called after five innings if a team leads by 15 runs or more or after seven if the lead is 10 or more.

After threatening in the first, with Ohtani doubling on the first pitch of the game but unable to score, Japan exploded for 10 runs in the second inning.

Japan, batting first as the designated visiting team, put the first three runners on base. Kenya Wakatsuki fouled out to the catcher, bringing up Ohtani for the dramatic slam to right field off starter Hao-Chun Cheng.

Japan added six more runs in the inning, which lasted 28 minutes. Japan batted around, and Ohtani got his third hit of the game, a single, and fifth RBI of the inning.

And only two innings had been played.

Japan scored three more in the third, this time off the third pitcher, Tzu-Chen Sha, to push the lead to 13-0.

Left in the shadows was Japan's starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, last season's World Series MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After long rests between innings, Yamamoto got into trouble in the third, walking two and loading the bases with the help of an error. He was replaced by Shoma Fujihira who struck out An-Ko Lin to end the threat.

Yamamoto struck out three, walked two, allowed no hits and was the winner. Cheng got the loss.

Ohtani led off the fourth and lined out on a leaping catch by first baseman Nien-Ting Wu. Ohtani needed a triple for a cycle,