Japan vs. Mexico score: Shohei Ohtani sparks late rally to set up World Baseball Classic championship vs. USA

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Japan defeated Mexico 6-5 on Monday night to advance to the 2023 World Baseball Classic finals. In Tuesday's championship, Japan will now play the United States, who blew out Cuba in the other semifinal on Sunday. Japan is the only multi-time champion in WBC history, but the United States could join them with a win.

Japan starter Roki Sasaki and Mexico starter Patrick Sandoval traded zeroes through the first three innings. It wasn't until the fourth that someone scored, with that coming on a three-run home run by Mexico's Luis Urías. Take a look:

Japan would threaten in the fifth and the sixth, but Mexico would keep them off the board behind a pair of good catches from Randy Arozarena, including this web gem:

Japan would tie the game in the bottom of the seventh when Masataka Yoshida launched a three-run shot of his own against reliever JoJo Romero to 1) become the WBC single-tournament leader in runs batted in and 2) square the game at 3-3:

Mexico answered right back. Arozarena and Alex Verdugo hit consecutive doubles in the top of the eighth, retaking the lead:

Japan would get a run back on a Hotaka Yamakawa sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth, reducing the lead to 5-4. Mexico's closer Giovanny Gallegos faced the heart of the order in the ninth with a chance to lock down the victory. Instead, he surrendered a leadoff double to Shohei Ohtani, a walk to Masataka Yoshida, and a walk-off double to Munetaka Murakami:

Here's three other things to know about Japan's win.

1. Sasaki awes

As we noted entering the tournament, young Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki stands out as one of the most exciting players in the world who isn't presently part of MLB. He validated the sentiment on Tuesday.

Sasaki threw four innings, surrendering three runs on five hits and no walks. He struck out three of the 16 batters he faced. He also showed off elite stuff, including a fastball that topped out at 102 mph. He averaged 95 mph on his pitches, and he generated 12 whiffs on 33 swings taken against him.

Sasaki, 21 years old, put himself on the global scene last April when he struck out 19 as part of the first perfect game in Nippon Professional Baseball in nearly 30 years. Sasaki was replaced by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, NPB's reigning MVP and Cy Young equivalent Award winner. Yamamoto would allow the eventual go-ahead runs, giving up a pair in 3 1/3 innings of work.

Relievers Atsuki Yuasa and Taisei Ota subsequently kept Mexico off the board for 1 2/3 innings, allowing the Japan lineup a chance at closing the deficit. The Japan lineup took full advantage in the ninth.

2. Sandoval steals the show

Sasaki may have been the bigger name and shown the louder stuff, but Mexican southpaw Patrick Sandoval one-upped him in the most important category: the runs allowed column.

Sandoval threw 4 ⅓ scoreless innings, allowing four hits and a walk. He struck out six of the 17 batters he faced. According to Statcast, he also generated seven whiffs on 30 swings, with four of those coming on his slider. 

Astros righty José Urquidy replaced Sandoval. He worked his way out of trouble as part of 2 1/3 innings but was charged with a run as part of the aforementioned Romero's allowed home run. Jesus Cruz later checked in and struggled with his command, but Gerardo Reyes ended an eighth-inning threat by striking out Kensuke Kondoh. Alas, Gallegos couldn't keep up his end of the bargain.

3. Final set

Again, Team USA will tangle with Japan on Tuesday night in the WBC finals. The first pitch will occur at about 7 p.m. ET, with the winner walking away with hardware. The Americans won the 2017 edition, whereas Team Japan won the 2006 and 2009 editions. Merrill Kelly and Yu Darvish are expected to start for their respective teams.

You can relive our live coverage of Monday's game below.

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Japan wins 6-5

Murakami hits a walk-off double. Japan will play Team USA tomorrow night in the final.

 
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Yoshida walks

Runners on first and second, no doubt. Murakami due up.

 
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Ohtani with a leadoff double

Japan has the tying run in scoring position to begin the bottom of the ninth.

 
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Bottom of the ninth, here we come

Mexico is still leading 5-4. It'll be Ohtani, Yoshida, and Murakami, or the heart of Japan's order.

 
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Reyes K's Kondoh

We're headed to the ninth with a 5-4 Mexico lead.

 
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Reyes walks Nootbaar

Here comes Kondoh. Ohtani is on deck.

 
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That'll do it for Cruz

Mexico is once again going to its bullpen. This time for Gerardo Reyes. He'll face Nootbaar.

 
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Sac fly plates a run

It's 5-4 Mexico with a runner on second and two outs in the bottom of the eighth. 

 
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Genda gets the bunt down on a 2-2 count

Runners advance. One out, tying run on second.

 
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Genda looking to bunt

Would put the tying run in scoring position with one out.

 
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Yamada with a single through the left side

Japan is cooking with two on and nobody out.

 
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Japan has the tying run up

A hit by pitch opens the bottom of the eighth. 

 
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Mexico now up 5-3

Paredes singled to left, but Meneses was thrown out at home to end the top of the eighth

 
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Tellez breaks his lumber on his knee

After a strikeout. Mexico still has two in scoring position with two out.

 
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Three consecutive hits now

Meneses singles to left, but pinch-runner Jarren Duran stops at third. 

 
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Verdugo with a double of his own

It's 4-3 Mexico.

 
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One-out double from Arozarena

We'll see if Mexico can cash in this chance and retake the lead.

 
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Yoshida homers, ties it up

We're now even again at 3-3.

 
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Kondoh singles

Ohtani will be up with two outs. JoJo Romero is coming in.

 
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Call overturned 

Clearly I was wrong. We're through the top of the seventh. Still 3-0 Mexico. Japan coming to bat.

 
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Japan asks for a review

Looked like a prime strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play. Unfortunately, it appears they may not have properly applied a tag in time.

 
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Urquidy escapes

Coerced a liner to left that -- shocker -- Arozarena runs down for the third out. We're heading to the seventh.

 
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Urquidy issues another walk

Bases now loaded.

 
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Gil visits the mound

But allows Urquidy to continue. We'll see if that decision pays off.

 
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Tying run up again

This time with two outs in the sixth.

 
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Yoshida grounds into a fielder's choice

Mexico retires Ohtani at second, but Yoshida reaches. Still a runner at first, in other words, just now with one out.

 
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Ohtani singles to left

Japan has as baserunner to begin the bottom of the sixth.

 
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Kondoh drives one to deep left

But Arozarena runs it down. Score remains 3-0 Mexico through five.

 
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Bases loaded for Kondoh

Nootbaar walks. Still two outs in the frame.

 
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Grounder to short advances runners

Two in scoring position now, but with two outs. Top of the order due up.

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