The Albany Gazette - Ohtani homers as Japan thrash Taiwan at World Baseball Classic

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Ohtani's grand slam homer set the tone as Japan scored 10 runs in the second inning alone in front of around 42,000 fans at the Tokyo Dome.

Their dominance meant the game was cut short after seven innings under the so-called mercy rule.

The result gave Japan a dream start to the tournament as they go in search of a record-extending fourth title.

Taiwan, who were backed by a large and noisy travelling support, lost their second straight game following Thursday's defeat to Australia.

An expectant Tokyo crowd that included Puerto Rican music star Bad Bunny and American actor Timothee Chalamet packed the stands for their first glimpse of Ohtani at this year's tournament.

The 31-year-old hit a double off the first pitch of the game but Japan were unable to get on the scoreboard as Taiwan starting pitcher Cheng Hao-chun saw off the danger.

There was nothing Cheng could do when Ohtani smacked a grand slam home run in his next at-bat to put Japan up by four runs.

The defending champions were not finished there and they went on to rack up six more runs before the second inning was over.

They added three more in the third inning as things went from bad to worse for Taiwan.

Taiwan's Stuart Fairchild thought he had hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning but it was called a foul, which was upheld after an appeal.

Japan could not add to their score but the fact that they were ahead by 10 runs or more at the end of the seventh inning meant the game ended two innings early.

Japan starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, last season's World Series MVP with the Dodgers, was replaced in the third inning.

Japan play their next game against South Korea on Sunday.

Australia beat the Czech Republic 5-1 earlier on Friday in Pool C.

(F.Allen--TAG)