TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan powered to an 11-4 win against South Korea in the opener of their two-game international baseball series Saturday after pinch-hitter Yukinori Kishida delivered a three-run, go-ahead blast as part of a six-run surge in the bottom of the fifth inning at Tokyo Dome.

With less than four months until the start of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata and South Korea skipper Ryu Ji Hyun are using the games to give domestic-based players a chance to make their case for selection.

Japan's starting pitcher, Orix Buffaloes left-hander Ryuhei Sotani, strengthened his prospects by retiring all nine batters he faced over three spotless innings.

The visitors went up 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning after Song Sung Mun's solo blast back-to-back with outfielder Ahn Hyun Min's two-run homer against Hiroshima Carp lefty Daisuke Moriura.

Shugo Maki put Japan on the board in the home half with his single to left field off South Korea starter Gwak Been with runners on second and third before Misho Nishikawa doubled in two more to tie the game with reliever Lee Ro Un on the mound.

The South Korean bullpen collapsed in the fifth, with Isami Nomura and Shota Morishita reaching with none out before Yomiuri Giants catcher Kishida flew deep to left field at his home ballpark off his first pitch from right-hander Lee Ho Sung.

Seishiro Sakamoto drove in another run and Tai Sasaki singled home two more to break open the game at 9-3 before South Korea retired a batter in the frame.

The 29-year-old Kishida, one of four Japan catchers named for the two-game series, said he hoped to be part of the WBC roster but had approached the game no differently than any other.

"I'm doing things the same as always. I'll do my best to prepare with all my strength," he said in his postgame interview.

"Everyone on this team is trying to give their best performance with an eye to the WBC next spring."