South Korea tied the game at 3 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth sending the game into extra innings. In the top of the 10th, it was Seattle Mariners star Ichiro Suzuki who hit a two-out, two-run single to give Japan the victory over reigning Olympic champion South Korea 5-3.
Japan's Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-0) was awarded MVP honors for the second straight Classic.
Japan and Korea met five times in the 2009 Classic. They split two games in Round 1 and the same in Round 2.
The elimination of Cuba marks the first time since 1951 that the Cubans failed to reach the final round of a major international competition. Previously they made the finals 40 consecutive times in the IBAF World Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, the Olympics and the WBC.
Daisuke Matsuzaka led Japan to a 10-6 victory over Cuba in the championship game at Petco Park in the 2006 tournament.
Mexico's Foro Sol, located 1.4 miles above sea level, proved to be a hitters delight, with 28 home runs hit in the six games played there.
South Korea won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.
Photo Gallery
Japan defeated Korea for a second-consecutive WBC title. (AP)
Will you be following the World Baseball Classic? Are you going to a game? Who do you think will win? Do you think the Classic takes too much away from Spring Training? Got something to say?
In his blog, You've got eSmack!, Senior Fantasy Writer Eric Mack previews the World Baseball Classic. And, he tells us who he thinks will win it all. Read the blog.
Also: National Columnist Gregg Doyel gives fair warning, he thinks the Classic will backfire. Read the column.
Korea (6-3) | 
United States (4-4) eliminated | 
Venezuela (6-2) eliminated | 
Japan (7-2) Champion | 
Netherlands (2-4) eliminated | 
Cuba (4-2) eliminated | 
Mexico (2-4) | 
Puerto Rico (4-2) eliminated | 
China (1-2) eliminated | 
Australia (1-2) eliminated | 
Chinese Taipei (0-2) eliminated | 
Cuba (3-0) Pool B Winner | 
South Africa (0-2) eliminated | 
Canada (0-2) eliminated | 
Dominican Rep. (1-2) eliminated | 
Italy (1-2) eliminated | 
Netherlands (2-2) Pool D Runner-up | 
Panama (0-2) eliminated | 
