Baseball: Murakami lifts Japan into WBC final vs. U.S.

Japan came from behind to beat Mexico 6-5 on Munetaka Murakami's sayonara two-run ninth-inning double in the World Baseball Classic semifinals Monday.Trailing 5-4 in the ninth, Murakami, who had struggled through much of the tournament, drove a pitch to the wall in center at Miami's loanDepot park to send two-time champion Japan into Tuesday's final against the defending champion United States.Murakami, who was 0-for-4, blasted a high 1-1 fastball from St. Louis Cardinals reliever Giovanny Gallegos."Having struck out three times, the thought of bunting in that situation crossed my mind, but…READ FULL ARTICLE