A Nail-biter Sends Team USA to WBC Title Game With Puerto Rico
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The United States will play Puerto Rico tonight in Los Angeles in the title game of the World Baseball Classic. The matchup was set up by the U.S. team's 2-1 nail-biter victory Tuesday night over Japan at Dodger Stadium. A daylong downpour, rare in Southern California, couldn't dampen the resilient U.S. team led by former Major League Baseball manager Jim Leyland. Brandon Crawford scored the tie-breaking run when Japanese pitcher Noburhiro Matsuda bobbled Adam Jones' grounder toward third base in the third inning.