Struggling Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami smashed a two-run sayonara double to complete a 6-5 comeback against Mexico in the semifinals of the World Baseball Classic in Miami on Monday.
Winner of the first two WBCs, Japan advances to Tuesday's final in Miami against defending champion the United States.
With Japan down 5-4 in a game the Samurai had never led, St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Giovanny Gallegos started the bottom of the ninth inning looking to close out the game and send Mexico into its first final. He first had to contend with Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani, who hit a double, then pitched carefully to red-hot Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida, who walked. Earlier in the game, Yoshida had hit a game-tying three-run homer.
