2017 – In the second semi-final game of the 2017 World Baseball Classic, the United States defeats Japan, 2 – 1, to reach the finals for the first time, where they will face unbeaten Puerto Rico. In a game dominated by pitching, the U.S. goes ahead in the 4th as Andrew McCutchen singles in Christian Yelich, but that is all that they manage in six innings against Japanese starter Tomoyuki Sugano. Japan ties the score in the 6th on a homer by Ryosuke Kikuchi, but a bobble by 3B Nobuhiro Matsuda in the 8th allows Brandon Crawford to score the go-ahead run. Mark Melancon, Pat Neshek and Luke Gregerson then get the final six outs to close out the win.
On March 21, 2017 — 2017 – In the second semi-final game of the 2017 World Baseball Classic, the United States defeats Japan, 2 – 1, to reach the finals for the first time, where they will face unbeaten Puerto Rico. In a game dominated by pitching, the U.S. goes ahead in the 4th as Andrew McCutchen singles in Christian Yelich, but that is all that they manage in six innings against Japanese starter Tomoyuki Sugano. Japan ties the score in the 6th on a homer by Ryosuke Kikuchi, but a bobble by 3B Nobuhiro Matsuda in the 8th allows Brandon Crawford to score the go-ahead run. Mark Melancon, Pat Neshek and Luke Gregerson then get the final six outs to close out the win.
Sources –
Baseball Reference March 21
SABR Games Project
National Pastime March 21
Retro Sheet
Replay The Game