Ohtani Stars as Japan Tops USA in World Baseball Classic Final

It was a night that baseball can champion for its true international flare, with the starring roles going to pair of LA Angels: Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout.

Long considered two of the best players in baseball, neither has been able to get the Angels over the hump toward a postseason berth, but on Tuesday they were front and center in the dream match-up between the United States and Japan at the World Baseball classic.

And it didn't disappoint.

In the ninth inning with Japan leading the United States 3-2, baseball fans got a chance to glimpse at something they have never seen before: Ohtani facing Trout with the game on the line. The Angel teammates, who admitted to never facing each other in Spring Training before this meeting, finally faced off with Ohtani getting the better end of the deal when he struck out Trout on a slider away to seal the deal for Japan.

Now the question is can both players finally get the Angels to taste similar glory in October?

Let's look at the highlights below!