Boston Red Sox
Yoshida went 2-for-4 with three RBIs in Japan’s win over Korea on Saturday.
Masataka Yoshida hit a home run in Japan’s win over Korea. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images)
March 7, 2026 | 12:41 PM
2 minutes to read
Masataka Yoshida stepped up for Japan in the World Baseball Classic on Saturday, and he had some Boston sports royalty on hand to see it.
The Red Sox’ outfielder went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs in Japan’s 8-6 victory over Korea on Saturday. Yoshida’s home run came in the third inning, hitting a 387-foot solo home run to right field in the third inning off Jo Byeong-Hyeon.
Yoshida’s home run capped off what was a strong inning for Japan. Shohei Ohtani hit a homer earlier in the frame, while Cubs star Seiya Suzuki hit a blast in the at-bat before Yoshida’s. The string of homers helped give Japan a 5-3 lead.
The other two runners Yoshida knocked in came in the seventh inning, giving Japan a pair of big insurance runs. He hit a two-run single that extended Japan’s lead to 8-5, with one of the runners he knocked in being Ohtani.
Yoshida’s performance helped Japan move to 2-0 in pool play. He’s also 4-for-7 at the plate through the first two games, adding an RBI in Japan’s 13-0 over Chinese Taipei.
While Yoshida starred at the Tokyo Dome, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye also happened to be there. Maye was in attendance as he’s spent the last week in Japan. His wife, Ann Michael Maye, was also with him.
Maye was rocking a Dodgers uniform for Saturday’s game, though.
Earlier in the week, Maye attended one of his brother’s basketball games in Kobe, Japan. Luke Maye plays for the Kobe Storks of the Japanese B League.
In other Red Sox-related World Baseball Classic news, Roman Anthony got out to a strong start for Team USA. He went 2-for-4 in the United States’ 15-5 win over Brazil on Friday, knocking in two runners.
Jarren Duran scored a run in Mexico’s 8-2 win over Great Britain on Friday. Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu each had two hits in Venezuela’s 6-2 win over the Netherlands, combining for three RBIs. Ceddanne Rafaela went hitless for the Netherlands in that game, but he made an impressive play on the field.
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