Italy won’t be intimidated as when they face Japan and their two-way ace Shohei Ohtani in the World Baseball Classic quarter-finals in Tokyo on Thursday.
Mike Piazza’s Italy reached the knockout round after upsetting two-time WBC semi-finalists the Netherlands in their final Pool A game in Taiching.
The win earned Italy the unenviable task of facing a loaded Japan side in a packed house at Tokyo Dome with superstar Shohei Ohtani on the mound.
Piazza praised Ohtani for his success as both a pitcher and a hitter at the Major League level, but said he can be beaten both on the mound and at the plate.
“If you make good pitches on him and if you were able to get the right pitches as a hitter and be disciplined and not swing at his good pitches, you have a chance”, Piazza said after training on Wednesday.
The winner advances to Miami and a spot in the World Baseball Classic semi-finals.
JP2021.COM