iStock/Thinkstock(LOS ANGELES) — The United States is headed to its very first World Baseball Classic championship game.

Team USA defeated Japan 2-1 on Tuesday to advance to the final. They will now face Puerto Rico, who remains undefeated in the tournament.

The winner-take-all game will take place Wednesday night at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium. </s> Not even the rain could stop history. Under the veil of a persistent mist at Dodger Stadium, Team USA faced Japan in the last game of the semifinal round of the 2017 World Baseball Classic Tuesday night. A tough match up for any team as Japan went into the semis undefeated. But much like the rain, the Americans were persistent as well.

It was a scoreless game through nearly fourth innings in Los Angeles until Andrew McCutchen stepped up to the plate. McCutchen hit an RBI single and gave Team USA the 1-0 lead.

Japan needed a jolt and Ryosuke Kikuchi gave it to them with a solo homerun in the sixth inning to tie the game at one apiece.

USA fans once again looked to the man now being called “Captain America,” Adam Jones. The San Diego product broke the tie in the eighth inning with a groundout to third base which allowed Brandon Crawford to score. That wound up being the deciding run in the Americans’ 2-1 victory over Japan.

This is the first time the United States will play in the World Baseball Classic final. Team USA faces Puerto Rico in the title game at Dodger Stadium Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. PST. </s> USA beat Japan, the two time champion, to advance to the World Baseball Classic final for the first time in the tournaments history. USa will face Puerto Rico, who beat Netherlands in 11 innings to advance to the finals the previous night. </s> If you haven’t been paying attention to the World Baseball Classic, now is a pretty good time to start.

The United States is on the verge of playing in the final for the first time ever thanks to a memorable victory over the Dominican Republic, but the Americans first will have to overcome undefeated Japan at Dodger Stadium in the second semifinal.

The Washington Nationals’ Tanner Roark will get the start on the mound for Team USA, while Tomoyuki Sugano will get the ball for Japan.

Puerto Rico awaits the winner in the final.

Here’s how you can watch Team USA vs. Japan online. </s> The United States is in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic for the first time. Team USA advanced to the title game with a 2-1 win over Japan in Tuesday’s semifinals at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Adam Jones’ grounder to third scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning. Andrew McCutchen singled in the other U.S. run in the fourth. Sam Dyson got the win and Luke Gregerson the save. Starter Tanner Roark pitched four innings of two-hit, shutout ball. Team USA will play Puerto Rico for the World Baseball Classic championship Wednesday night in LA. </s> Download the CBS Sports App today and get instant NCAA tournament news and alerts, plus get the latest picks and upsets from SportsLine!

The United States of America moves to its first ever World Baseball Classic final, by virtue of taking down two-time champion Japan in the semifinals on Tuesday night, 2-1. The final will be on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT in Dodger Stadium vs. Puerto Rico, which is undefeated to this point.

Here are nine things to know from the USA victory:

1. USA fans again got a taste of the Japanese atmosphere

Japan won the event in both 2006 and 2009 and then advanced to AT&T Park in the 2013 semifinals. The Japanese fans travel well and get plenty of Japanese Americans to the games as well. They do things a bit differently than the USA fans or even the loud and extremely enthusiastic fans from Latin American countries.

They have bands. Said bands play certain songs during every Japanese at-bat, with each hitter being assigned a song at times.

Here’s a sample from the official WBC Twitter account:

I also heard the “Back to the Future” theme song a few times, which is all kinds of awesome.

This is definitely different than what many of us are used to. I can see it being a very polarizing topic where some think it’s fun and others absolutely despise it.

For at least the first five innings, it was raining in Dodger Stadium, which is a rarity. Sometimes it was pretty steady but it didn’t really let up until the sixth inning. It picked up on occasion the rest of the way as well. The grounds crew had to become involved a few times, notably around home plate and on the mound, obviously.

So this means the conditions were a bit tougher than usual, notably on hard groundballs where the ball would be picking up wetness on its way to the fielder. Ian Kinsler and Brandon Crawford uncharacteristically had trouble on one ball each.

Of course, this happens sometimes in Major League Baseball, and the players are more equipped for it.

In the Nippon Professional Baseball (Japan’s major league), most stadiums are domes with turf. For the most part, the outstanding Japan defense handled itself well.

3. USA’s first run scored thanks to an error

I said “for the most part,” because USA’s first run was unearned. Christian Yelich hit a relatively hard -- but not scorching or anything -- grounder right at second baseman Ryosuke Kikuchi, and he booted it.

Bear in mind, this is a man who has four Golden Gloves (NPB’s version of the Gold Glove, obviously) in four seasons and is considered a defensive wizard. He committed only four errors in 836 chances last season (.995). The weather most certainly had a hand in this one.

And USA would make Japan pay. After a Nolan Arenado strikeout and Eric Hosmer walk, Andrew McCutchen would deliver the two-out, go-ahead single

With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning and Japan trailing 1-0, Kikuchi clubbed a home run off USA reliever Nate Jones to right field. It was a wall-scraper and initially it looked like McCutchen -- how about that coincidence? -- robbed him. Instead, Cutch just missed the ball and the game was tied.

Sure, maybe the rain helped a little, but the pitchers had to deal with wet baseballs as well.

Tanner Roark went for USA and threw four scoreless innings. He allowed only two hits and a walk. There was a timely double play and a hard ball hit or two, but it was mostly soft contact or routine fly balls. He pitched to contact, too, only striking out one.

He was outshined, in my opinion, by Japan starter Tomoyuki Sugano. In six innings of work, he gave up just one run on three hits, but that was an unearned run as mentioned above. He struck out six while walking just one, and that was with two outs and a base to work with. The USA hitters were stuck attempting to check swings often due to being caught so off-guard by his arsenal, too.

6. Power, weather and the contact play worked for USA in the eighth

Brandon Crawford picked up a one-out single that was hit awfully hard to right in the eighth. Then Ian Kinsler hit a ball that looked like it was going to end up over the left-center fence. Crawford didn’t score due to what looked like caution with the wet/muddy infield. So it was second and third with one out for Adam Jones, who had been clutch throughout the WBC.

On the hill for Japan was its biggest strikeout pitcher in Kodai Senga, who struck out the first four USA hitters he faced and was leading the entire WBC in strikeouts to this point. Jones isn’t exactly a contact hitter, either, but he came through and put the ball in play.

It was a soft grounder to third base, but Crawford was coming home on the contact play. He probably would’ve been out, but the weather came into play again, as Japan third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda couldn’t initially handle the ball and had to call an audible by getting the easy out at first.

And USA would head to the bottom of the eighth with a 2-1 lead.

7. Melancon and Neshek got huge outs in the eighth

Mark Melancon gave up a single and then a sac bunt, giving Japan the tying run on second base with one out and Kikuchi coming to the plate. Melancon isn’t a strikeout artist compared to other stud closers, but he got the huge strikeout.

Of course, he needed to be bailed out after walking Nori Aoki on four pitches to get to Japan’s cleanup hitter, Yoshitomo Tsutsugoh, who had 44 homers last year in NPB. He also has three so far in WBC play. Neshek worked him to a two-strike count and got a somewhat deep fly to nestle in McCutchen’s glove in right field.

Close call for USA? Yes, yes it was. The result is all that matters, though.

There was no close call in the ninth inning for Gregerson. He needed only seven pitches to dispatch of Japan’s 5-7 hitters while striking out the final batter. USA is now 5-2 in this tournament with Gregerson saving three games in four appearances. In his four innings, he hasn’t even allowed a hit, much less a run. He’s struck out three while walking one, good for a 0.25 WHIP and 0.00 ERA.

Small samples? Of course, but this entire event is a small sample. It’s not a marathon like Major League Baseball. It’s a sprint and Gregerson has stormed out of the block.

9. USA moves on to the championship game

Puerto Rico awaits for all the marbles on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. ET on MLB Network.

The two teams last squared off last Friday in San Diego’s Petco Park, with Puerto Rico winning a thriller, 6-5 , that saw USA leave the tying run on third base -- though it was Brandon Crawford and he shouldn’t have been called safe when sliding into third. Let’s hope there’s just as much drama. That would be fun.

Seth Lugo will get the ball for Puerto Rico against Marcus Stroman for USA. It was the pitching matchup last time the two teams faced each other. Stroman didn’t fare so well, coughing up six straight hits in the first inning. He would end up settling down, allowing eight hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings. Lugo worked 5 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits.

Expect the atmosphere to be crazy inside Dodger Stadium. Let’s hope the rain stays away this time.

We live-blogged the action with witty commentary, complaints, snide remarks and out usual excellent baseball knowledge. Check it out at your leisure:

If the live blog isn’t displayed below, click here to reload the page . </s> The 2017 World Baseball Classic championship game is an all-American affair as Team USA takes on Puerto Rico Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

Puerto Rico advanced to the championship by defeating the Netherlands, 4-3, in 11 innings Monday, and the United States reached the final by defeating Japan, 2-1, on Tuesday.

Here's what you need to know about Wednesday's winner-take-all game in L.A.

What time is the United States vs. Puerto Rico final in the 2017 World Baseball Classic?

Team USA and Puerto Rico play at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

How can I watch or stream United States-Puerto Rico final in the 2017 World Baseball Classic?

The Team USA-Puerto Rico game is on MLB Network and streaming on MLB.tv.

Who is the home team in the United States-Puerto Rico final in the 2017 World Baseball Classic?

Though the game is being played in Los Angeles, Puerto Rico will be the home team by virtue of winning a coin toss.

Who are the starting pitchers in the United States-Puerto Rico final in the 2017 World Baseball Classic?

The United States will send Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman to the mound, and Puerto Rico will start Mets right-hander Seth Lugo. The two faced off Friday in championship-round pool play, with Puerto Rico winning, 6-5. </s> LOS ANGELES – Breaking down Tuesday’s semifinal game of the World Baseball Classic between USA and Japan.



United States 2, Japan 1 



 ***

The game: It was the greatest pitching duel of the tournament for USA, knowing that one little mistake, one bad pitch, could end their championship hopes. USA’s staff never relented, giving up a solo home run, but that was it, shutting down Japan the rest of the game for their first trip to the WBC championship game.

The hero of the night was Ian Kinsler, who hit a one-out double off the left-center-field fence advancing Brandon Crawford to third base. Team Japan brought the infield in, and got just what they wanted when Adam Jones hit a slow roller to sure-handed third baseman Noburhiro Matsuda. If he fields the ball cleanly, Crawford is out by 10 feet at the plate.

But he dropped it. He recovered in time to throw out Jones at first base, but the critical run scored.





State of Championship Round: The emotional, dramatic World Baseball Classic has reached its final day. It will be USA against Team Puerto Rico, who’s undefeated in the tournament, and outscoring their opponents, 55-18.

Puerto Rico, who lost the title game in 2013 to the Dominican Republic, is seeking vengeance, desperately hoping to capture its first championship.

It will be Toronto Blue Jays ace Marcus Stroman pitching for Team USA against Puerto Rico starter Seth Lugo of the New York Mets.

Pivot point: Team USA was hanging on for dear life in the eighth inning when USA manager Jim Leyland called upon Pat Neshek with two runners on and two outs. Neshek, facing cleanup hitter Yoshitomo Tsutsugoh, threw a 70-mph knuckle-curve and got him to fly out to right fielder Andrew McCutchen for the final out.

Neshek walked off the mound raising his hands high in the air, and USA was on their way to the championship game.

Man of the moment: USA left fielder Andrew McCutchen. McCutchen, who hit a huge two-run double that broke the game open in USA’s 6-3 victory over the Dominican Republic to vault them into the championship game, delivered once again on this night.

He hit a two-out, run-scoring single in the fourth inning that accounted for USA’s lone run, and the only blemish against Japan starter Tomoyuki Sugano.

And he caught the crucial third out of the eighth inning when Yoshitomo Tsutsugoh just missed hitting a home run.

Needing a mulligan: Team Japan second baseman Ryosuke Kikuchi. Kikuchi cost his team the first run of the game, and nearly another, with blunders in back-to-back innings. It was in the fourth inning when USA outfielder Christian Yelich hit a sharp grounder towards Kikuchi, who was playing almost in shallow right fielder. The ball went right through him, Yelich kept hustling, and wound up on second. The error proved costly when Andrew McCutchen capitalized with a two-out, run-scoring single.

Kikuchi almost cost Japan a run in the third inning, too, when Giancarlo Stanton hit a tailor-made double play grounder to third baseman Nobuhiro Sakaomoto. Sakomoto threw to Kikuchi at second, who fired to first, for what appeared to be a double play. Only the replay showed that Kikuchi wasn’t even close to second base, and Posey was safe.

Although Kikuchi provided Japan’s lone run with his homer, he also struck out in the eighth with a runner on second base.

Manager’s special: Leyland raised some eyebrows when he pulled starter Tanner Roark after yielding two hits in four shutout innings, and throwing only 48 pitches. It lowered USA’s starter’s ERA to just 1.50 in 30 innings during the WBC.

Yet, despite Roark’s domination, Leyland called upon Chicago White Sox reliever Nate Jones.

It looked as if it would work to perfection as Jones pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning, and retired the first four batters he faced. Yet, with one out in the sixth, and on a 1-and-2 pitch, he gave up a homer on a 98-mph fastball to right field to Ryosuke Kikuchi.

Leyland turned to left-hander Andrew Miller, who closed out the sixth, keeping the score tied at 1-apiece. They wound up using six relievers to close out the game.

What you missed on TV: The atmosphere was like a high-school football game with the damp air, fog rolling in, and a large band from Japan that constantly played and cheered when Team Japan was at the plate.

Yet, unlike the atmosphere in Miami against the Dominican Republic that unraveled Roark, it was as if he fed off the energy on this night.

Roark, who had pitched only 1 1/3 innings in the WBC, cruised on this night, pitching five shout innings in what he called the biggest game of his career.

“It's usually the team that pitches the best normally has the best shot of winning,’’ Leyland said. “It's very rare that you outslug anybody. You don't do it for a whole season. Once in a great, great while, maybe.

“But for the most part, it's about the pitching, catching the ball, throwing it to the right base, just playing basic baseball.

“There is nothing tricky about it.’’ </s> The 2017 World Baseball Classic is upon us. The tournament begins early Monday with Game 1 of Pool A at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea. Pool B will be played at Tokyo Dome, Pool C will be played at Marlins Park in Miami, and Pool D will be played at Estadio Charros de Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Here’s how you can watch the tournament’s opening game:

Israel and South Korea are in a pool with Chinese Taipei and the Netherlands. South Korea finished second in the 2009 WBC and third in the 2006 WBC. They failed to make it out of the first round in 2013. Israel qualified for the tournament for the first time by winning their qualifying pool in September .

The only MLB player on South Korea’s roster is Cardinals closer Seung Hwan Oh. The rest of the roster is made up of players from the Korea Baseball Organization. Also on the roster are Samsung Lions outfielder Hyung Woo Choi, who led the league with a .371 batting average and 136 RBI in 2016, and lefties Won Jun Jang (Doosan Bears) and Hyun Jong Yang (Kia Tigers). They’re two of the best pitchers in the KBO.

Israel’s roster includes several big leaguers and former big leaguers. Craig Breslow, Ike Davis, Scott Feldman, Sam Fuld, Ryan Lavarnway and Jason Marquis are among those on the roster.

Here are the betting lines on the game, via SportsBook.ag:

As for my official prediction, I’m taking South Korea in a blowout. They have a more talented roster top to bottom, including a deeper bullpen. Starters are limited to 65 pitches in the first round, and Israel’s lack of high-end relievers won’t be able to hold back the talented South Korea lineup.

Here is the full 2017 WBC schedule as well as the full rosters . The championship game will be played March 22 at Dodger Stadium.
The United States defeats Japan 2–1 at Dodger Stadium to advance to the 2017 World Baseball Classic's final. This is the first time that the U.S. has done so in the tournament's 11-year history.