Japan's Samurai team surged late to defeat Australia, securing the top spot in Group C with three consecutive wins.

Australia was just a few runs and one out away from pulling off a stunning upset at the World Baseball Classic.

Inside Tokyo Dome on Sunday, Japan's Samurai team struggled to generate consistent offense against Australia's pitchers, remaining scoreless and trailing until the bottom of the seventh inning. But the defending champions delivered the crucial hit when it mattered most.

That hit came from Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida. In the seventh inning, he blasted a go-ahead two-run homer, setting the stage for Japan's 4-3 comeback victory.

Before Yoshida stepped up to the plate, Australia's four pitchers combined with several sharp defensive plays to effectively stifle Japan's offense. Australia struck first in the sixth inning: after one out, outfielder Aaron Whitefield hit a double, then stole third base and scored on a throwing error by catcher Kenji Wakatsuki, giving Australia the lead.

Japan, boasting formidable hitters like Yoshida, Shohei Ohtani, and Seiya Suzuki, nearly became the second team in Classic history to be shut out. Australia could have escaped the seventh inning unscathed, but shortstop Jarryd Dale's throw to first during a double-play attempt missed the mark, allowing Japan to survive, and Yoshida seized that opportunity.

His 394-foot home run to right field instantly ignited the home crowd. This was Yoshida's second consecutive day with a homer; yesterday against South Korea, he also contributed to a third-inning three-homer burst. The left-handed power hitter has recorded 5 hits in 15 at-bats with 6 RBIs and an impressive 1.783 OPS over the first three Classic games.

Japan added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, courtesy of pinch-hitter Teruaki Sato's double and Seiya Suzuki's bases-loaded walk. Australia briefly revived suspense in the ninth inning when Alex Hall and Rixon Wingrove each hit solo homers off Taisei Ota. However, Ota then induced a groundout from catcher Robbie Perkins, securing the win and preserving Japan's unbeaten record.

Australia currently stands at 2 wins and 1 loss; if they defeat South Korea on Monday, they can still advance to the quarterfinals alongside Japan. Japan will conclude its Group C schedule against Czech Republic on Tuesday.