In the most tense and hard-fought game of the tournament, Japan beat arch-rivals South Korea 5-3 to retain their crown as World Baseball Classic champions. Team leader and batting phenom Ichiro was once again the key, getting on base time after time, stealing bases and finally driving in the winning two runs. Japan got strong support from right-handed starter Iwakuma Hisashi, who pitched seven and two-thirds innings and got the win. Down by a run from the third inning, the Koreans repeatedly allowed Japan’s batters to get on base but managed to keep the run count at one apiece until the seventh and stayed just within reach of Hara Tatsunori’s team. They drew level 3-3 with two out in the bottom of the ninth with an RBI off Darvish Yuu, sending their supporters – an overwhelming majority of the 54,846 fans – into a frenzy at Dodger Stadium. In just the second game of the tournament to go into nail-biting extra innings, it began to look like the Koreans might just have the edge. But Ichiro, whose batting form has been up and down over the last week, was once again inspired and gave Japan the lead for good with a two-run double of reliever CY Lim. Darvish then managed to strike out the side for the win.
• Comedian Jinnai Tomonori (35) held a press conference to formally announce his divorce from actress Fujiwara Norika (37). News of the divorce surfaced last week and today a somber and black-suited Jinnai confirmed the rumors that the cause was his extra-marital affairs.