Japan stuns Mexico in WBC semifinal, will face USA for title

MIAMI — A house-run theft, terrific pitching, momentum-squashing catches, a game-tying three-run house run, punching again, and ear-splitting noise and commotion. The World Baseball Classic semifinal between Mexico and Japan had all of it, but it surely was Japan that lastly got here out on high in entrance of 35,933 rowdy followers in the constructing.

Trailing by one run and its three greatest hitters due up, Japan walked it off in the ninth inning to beat Mexico, 6-5, on Monday evening at loanDepot Park. Shohei Ohtani opened the inning with a leadoff double, then Masataka Yoshida drew a stroll, and Munetaka Murami lastly ended the back-and-forth recreation with a two-run walk-off double that despatched Japanese gamers flying onto the sector in a celebratory frenzy. After the hysteria, Team Japan stood on the third-base line, took its caps off, and bowed to the group.

Japan superior to the WBC last, the place it will go toe-to-toe in opposition to defending champion Team USA on Tuesday evening in Miami.

Deesha Thosar is an MLB author for FOX Sports. She beforehand lined the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. Follow her on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.

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