Two of the top players in baseball squared off in the ninth inning with the World Baseball Classic on the line Tuesday night in Miami.

Shohei Ohtani was brought in for the ninth inning with Japan clinging to a one-run lead and faced Angels teammate and fellow star Mike Trout, who was the third hitter in the inning with the game on the line.

Trout worked the count full, but struck out on a slider by the Japanese sensation, propelling team Japan to a 3-2 victory over Team USA and a World Baseball Classic title.

Earlier in the inning, Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil led off with a walk, but Team USA’s next batter, Mookie Betts, grounded out into a 4-6-3 double play, setting the stage for Trout.

The rest was history.

As for Ohtani, he backed up his rousing pregame speech he gave to his Japanese teammates.

“Let’s stop admiring them,” the 28-year-old Ohtani said, as translated by the Los Angeles Times.