Shohei Ohtani versus Mike Trout.

Could there be a more epic matchup? With the game on the line, Team Japan leading Team USA 3-2 with two outs in the ninth inning, the dream matchup of all time materialized.

The best hitter in baseball facing the best player in baseball for the World Baseball Classic championship. Teammates during the regular season. Rivals now.

In 6,174 major league plate appearances, Mike Trout has struck out on three swinging strikes only 24 times.

Shohei Ohtani struck him out swinging, swinging, and swinging to end the game, and to end the most exciting World Baseball Classic yet.

Japan has now won the Classic three times. They simply had better pitching on their roster. The best American pitchers chose to abstain.

Two amazing weeks of baseball came to an end last night. The regular season is eight days away. So, for the next eight days, we have to go back to trying to care about spring training games.

But, like Dr Suess said, don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.

*****

TODAY’S GAMES:

Texas vs San Francisco, 3:05
White Sox vs Texas, 3:05