Team Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata announced he will step down from his position after the World Baseball Classic. Japan was eliminated from the WBC on Saturday with an 8-5 loss to Venezuela in the tournament quarterfinals. Samurai Japan built a 5-2 lead after three innings, powered by home runs from Shohei Ohtani and Shota Morishita.

Thousands of Japanese baseball fans are calling for the country to cancel their Netflix subscriptions after their loss in the WBC.

Japan failed to reach the semifinals for the first time in World Baseball Classic history.

Garcia’s two-run smack trimmed the lead to one, and that lead evaporated altogether an inning later. With two runners on and nobody down, Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu delivered the swing of the tournament thus far. Again, a Japanese reliever failed to elevate a heater and was punished for it.

Shohei Ohtani and reigning champ Japan faced Venezuela team in WBC quarterfinals. Check out the highlights.

It didn't take long for Team Japan to make changes after failing to defend its World Baseball Classic title.

MIAMI (AP) — Japan's Seiya Suzuki left Saturday night's World Baseball Classic quarterfinal against Venezuela after appearing to hurt his right leg while he was caught stealing in the first inning. The Chicago Cubs outfielder walked with one out against Ranger Suárez and as he slid headfirst into second base appeared to hurt his right knee.

So Ibata was left uncomfortably answering questions about why he pulled Yoshinobu Yamamto before 80 pitches, Japan’s bullpen struggles, its inability to score in 6 ⅓ innings against Venezuela’s bullpen, and how it was possible to cough up a 5-2 lead.

Few people on this planet can hit the ball as hard or as far as Munetaka Murakami. The Samurai Japan slugger, who inked a two-year, $34 million deal with the White Sox earlier this offseason, proved t

Shohei Ohtani and reigning champ Japan face Venezuela team in WBC quarterfinals. Follow for updates.