Australia took care of business Friday afternoon at the Tokyo Dome with a 5-1 win over Czechia, improving to 2-0 in Pool C play at the World Baseball Classic.
Curtis Mead’s three-run home run in the third inning proved to be the difference, while the Australian pitching staff delivered another strong performance, allowing just four hits.
After opening the tournament with a 3-0 upset victory over Chinese Taipei, Australia now sits in a strong position to advance from the pool, though difficult matchups against Japan and Korea still await.
Czechia struck first in the bottom of the second inning. Martin Cervanka led off with a double, Marek Chlup drew a walk, and Martin Muzik laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third. Vojtech Mensik then lifted a sacrifice fly to give Czechia a 1-0 lead.
Australia responded quickly in the top of the third. Chris Burke singled, and Travis Bazzana walked before Mead crushed a three-run home run to left center field off Tomas Ondra to put Australia in front 3-1.
Josh Hendrickson started for Australia and worked three innings, allowing one run while striking out two to get the win. From there, Coen Wynne, Blake Townsend, Ky Hampton, and Todd Van Steensel combined to keep the Czech lineup quiet through the eighth inning.
The score stayed 3-1 until the top of the ninth, when Australia added insurance on an Alex Hall solo shot to make it 4-1. Jarryd Dale followed with a triple on a line drive to center that got past a diving Chlup, and Robbie Perkins brought him home with an RBI single.
Bazzana appeared to add another run with a sacrifice fly, but Czechia challenged the play at the plate, and the call was overturned, keeping the score at 5-1. Mitch Neunborn finished the game with a scoreless bottom of the ninth to secure the win for Australia.
Australia improved to 2-0 and will have an off day tomorrow before facing Japan and Korea. Czechia dropped to 0-2 and will play Chinese Taipei tomorrow, then get two days off ahead of its final pool game against Japan on Tuesday.
Samurai Japan will play its first game of the tournament later tonight against Chinese Taipei, which will be eager to bounce back after a disappointing start against Australia.
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Photo: The Tokyo Dome is hosting Pool C of the 2026 World Baseball Classic. (Photo by Leif Skodnick/World Baseball Network)
