Martin Muzik hit a three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to lift the Czech Republic to an 8-5 win over China at the World Baseball Classic on Friday in Tokyo.

The Pool B game was the opener for the Czech Republic while China fell to 0-2.

After Muzik's blast gave the Czechs a 7-5 lead, Petr Zyma doubled and Filip Smola singled for an insurance run.

Matej Mensik hit a solo homer, a sacrifice fly and a double for the Czech Republic, which got four scoreless innings from starting pitcher Daniel Padysak. Marek Minarik tossed 2 2/3 shutout innings for the win.

Jinjun Luo, Pei Liang and Jin Yang hit RBI singles in a four-run seventh inning as China rallied from a 4-1 deficit to take the lead.

--Field Level Media