WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: POOL C - CHINESE TAIPEI VS AUSTRALIA

March 5, 2026

Travis Bazzana

Robbie Perkins

Tokyo Dome

Team Australia

Postgame Press Conference

Australia 3, Chinese Taipei 0

Q. You had a big home run against Korea and another big run today. Tell me what it's like to be in this environment in the Tokyo Dome, this big crowd and keep coming up big for the team like that?

ROBBIE PERKINS: Yeah, I think first and foremost, any time you get to strap on the jersey, your emotions are going to run guy so being able to come up clutch like that and put a couple runs on the board for the team obviously elevates that.

I've been here long enough where I can control that to a degree, and just know there's a job done and it's a sum of parts. It's not just about me. It's about the team, as well.

Q. Two-part, but No. 1, to be able to come out in your first World Baseball Classic and give your team security, the importance of that in an opening game, and also the meaning to do that for your country of Australia.

TRAVIS BAZZANA: I think the pitchers set the tone for us, and Perco, truly. Three lefties absolutely dominated all night long, and Perco gave us that lead. It makes slowing down the environment a touch easier when you have two runs there already.

And feel good in the box and got a good pitch to hit and that was on time that. Was nice. Finally being here, WBC, if you think about the two things I thought about most growing up, it was like playing in the WBC, thinking about the Tokyo Dome because we all come here, and obviously playing in the World Series and MLB.

So, yeah, it's special.

Q. In the box somebody described this win as "shocking" and my question for you both is: Is it?

ROBBIE PERKINS: So for myself and I think for the rest of the team it's absolutely not shocking. We built a culture around winning and we proved we can do it multiple times on the world stage now. I think we are starting to get some belief from the rest of the community. Some people still think it shocking but not to us.

TRAVIS BAZZANA: We played in the Premier12 in 2024, and Chinese Taipei were the champions. They are an incredible baseball team.

But we had two ex-major leaguers pitch there, and a third guy who is one of the toughest pitchers for any left-hand hitter or hitter to face who pitches in the ABL. There's that and a lot of experience throughout our team and some young players, subpoena experienced, it's a perfect combination.

So when we go against anyone we are going to have belief and trust in each other that we can go out. It's the same game we play no matter who you're facing. Chinese Taipei is an incredible opponent but we executed well tonight and won.

Q. Today turned out to be a day you'll probably never forget for the rest of your life, but can you describe the ranges of emotions you felt throughout the day from the time you got up and to now?

TRAVIS BAZZANA: Early on in the day, calm and feeling -- feeling good. Feeling relaxed. And yeah, once you get inside the dome definitely some jitters start to come on. You see the crowd and you feel that buzz, that energy. So have to kind of slow it down and control your breath, control your thoughts. But for me, I love the environment, the atmosphere. I feel like the buzz puts me in a flow and a good focus.

And then yeah, the emotions are pretty steady throughout the game. When lefties are throwing a shutout it allows team emotions to be steady. It was a weird feeling. When I hit the home run, the crowd went very quiet, and it was strange. My mind didn't know what to think because I was and he canning like a cheer but no. It's so quiet, lots of fans in the crowd. So lots of emotion but we kept it steady today.

Q. One of your dream was playing here in the Tokyo Dome. Why in Tokyo Dome was a big ambition to play here? Can you describe any reasons, please?

TRAVIS BAZZANA: When I was younger Team Australia was playing in Tokyo Dome for tournaments touch as Premier12 and World Baseball Classic. I have vivid memories watching the team, and I obviously know how fans in Japan and the baseball culture in Japan impact this environment.

So it's a special one. It feels like a playoff baseball environment in America, I feel like every game you step in a dome in Japan. Yeah, I was excited for my whole life.

Q. This is Game 1. Now you are going to play a lot of games throughout not only the MLB but the WBC tournament. How do you feel about your future? And for Mr. Perkins, today's contest, you guys had a huge win. What environment gives you credit to get a big win?

TRAVIS BAZZANA: Yeah, it's a great experience. I will cherish these games in Tokyo Dome for the rest of my life and I hope to play in similar environments, whether it's here again or in playoff baseball in America in the future. That would be incredible.

So I love playing here, and I hope to experience many more baseball games like that.

ROBBIE PERKINS: Yeah I think in terms of the winning culture we built a belief that on any given day we can beat anyone in the world over a 162-game season in the major leagues that may not be the case but one-on-one, we can do that.

So we have a lot of belief in all our training camps and all of that is very much centered around the team goal of competing with the best in the world.