In a memorable matchup of two of baseball’s modern greats, Shohei Ohtani and Japan overtook Mike Trout and the U.S. during the fifth-ever World Baseball Classic.

   The bout of a lifetime was set up after both powerhouse groups were able to overtake two formidable opponents; the U.S. topped Cuba, and Japan, Mexico.

   According to ESPN, “The reigning Olympic gold medalists (Japan) arrived and ran roughshod through pool play and the quarterfinals, hopeful they would meet the powerful Team USA, with its countless All-Stars and billion-dollar lineup, in the final,” Columnist and writer for ESPN and the New York Times, Jeff Passan said.

   The United States’s arrival to the finals came in a more peaceful manner, as they beat the Cuban National team 14-2 in the semi-final game. The star of the game for the U.S. squad, Mike Trout, earned one hit along with one run batted in, according to ESPN.

   “Two runs in the first, one run in the second, two runs in the third, two runs in the fourth, two runs in the fifth, four runs in the sixth. USA scored in each of the first six innings,” Writer for the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, Mike Axisa said.

   Once both teams arrived in the final game of the tournament, every fan knew that they were in for an instant classic. By the bottom of the second inning, Japan was up 2-1. Japan would score one more in the fourth inning to make the score 3-1. This would remain the score until the top of the eighth inning when the U.S. would run in one more to cut their deficit to 3-2. Japan wouldn’t be able to score in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the stage was set for the faceoff of a lifetime; with the U.S. one run down, and two outs deep, Mike Trout would have the opportunity to bat against Shohei Ohtani to decide whether or not the U.S. would remain in the game.

   “When this was over, they would again be Los Angeles Angels teammates, but in this moment, this perfect moment, they were foes,” Passan said according to ESPN.

   Ohtani started out with a ball south of the strike zone to start Trout’s at-bat, at a count of one ball and zero strikes. The second pitch; a fastball down the middle, brought the count to one ball and one strike. Trout and Ohtani traded one ball and one strike over the next two pitches, and the count was now three balls and two strikes. With the game evidently on the shoulders of both of the two players, Ohtani sent a pitch down the middle of the strike zone. Trout swung – just wide of the 83-mile-per-hour slider. Japan mobbed Ohtani, as they realized they had just won the tournament.