Late rally propels Japan past Korea

Mar 20, 2009 - 4:56 AM SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Akinori Iwamura singled in a run and Michihiro Ogasawara added an RBI single in a three-run eighth inning that fueled Japan to a 6-2 win over Korea on Thursday at the World Baseball Classic.

Norichika Aoki and Shuichi Murata had two hits apiece for Japan, which earned the top seed from Pool 1 and will face the United States in the semifinals on Saturday.

Korea will take on Pool 2 winner Venezuela in the other semifinal on Sunday.

After Korea forged a 2-2 tie on Bum Ho Lee's solo homer in the seventh, the Japanese responded with a rally in the eighth sparked by Aoki's bunt single leading off the frame.

Atsunori Inaba followed with a single, moving Aoki to third, and Ogasawara chased him home with a single to right, putting Japan on top, 3-2. Yoshiyuki Kamei moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt and Iwamura came through with an RBI single up the middle.

Inaba scored on Iwamura's single and Ogasawara followed him home when Korean center fielder Taek-Keun Lee bobbled the ball.

Japan and Korea have already played each other four times in the WBC, with each winning twice.

Boston Red Sox righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka and international phenom Yu Darvish are lined up to pitch in the semifinals and finals for Japan.