WATCH: Schwarber Homers Off Darvish to Cut Japan Lead over USA to 3-2

With Team USA trailing Team Japan late in the World Baseball Classic championship game, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber hit a solo home run off former teammate, San Diego Padres pitcher Yu Darvish. Schwarber's home run cut Team Japan's lead over Team USA from 3-1 to 3-2.

SCHWARBER TAKES THAT ONE OUT OF HERE!

USA is within 1 run in the 8th! pic.twitter.com/ULhUJSBMy7
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 22, 2023

Schwarber and Darvish were teammates on the Chicago Cubs from 2018 through 2020. The Cubs did not tender Schwarber a contract after the 2020 season. The Cubs also traded Darvish to the San Diego Padres for Zach Davies and prospects that same winter.

Darvish recently signed an extension to remain with the Padres. After playing for the Boston Red Sox and Washington Nationals in 2021, Schwarber signed a four-year, $79 million contract with the Phillies last March.

Schwarber and Darvish's new teams would play each other in the National League Championship Series last October. Schwarber's Phillies would emerge victorious, as the power-hitting slugger even hit a home run off his former teammate in that series. Tuesday night, he once again tagged one off of Darvish.

Darvish did not start the World Baseball Classic Championship game Tuesday night. Instead, he pitched in relief, and gave up a home run as Schwarber cut Team Japan's lead in half.

Darvish then gave up a single to Schwarber's Phillies teammate Trea Turner, but he was able to pitch himself out of the jam and avoid further damage, with Japan leading 3-2 entering the bottom of the eighth inning in Miami.

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