South Korea downs Japan 6-2 to reach Olympic baseball final

South Korea downs Japan 6-2 to reach Olympic baseball final

BEIJING, China - Japan manager Senichi Hoshino shakes hands with Lee Seung Yeop after South Korea beat Japan 6-2 in the semifinals of the baseball tournament of the Beijing Olympics at Wukesong Baseball Field in Beijing on Aug. 22. Lee, who plays for Japan's Yomiuri Giants, hit a tiebreaking two-run homer off Japan's Hitoki Iwase in the bottom of the eighth inning.

South Korea downs Japan 6-2 to reach Olympic baseball final

South Korea downs Japan 6-2 to reach Olympic baseball final

BEIJING, China - Lee Seung Yeop, who plays for Japan's Yomiuri Giants, celebrates after hitting a tiebreaking two-run homer off Japan's Hitoki Iwase in the bottom of the eighth inning, lifting South Korea to a 6-2 victory over Japan in the semifinals of the baseball tournament of the Beijing Olympics at Wukesong Baseball Field in Beijing on Aug. 22.

Japan falls to U.S. in baseball, to meet S. Korea in semis

Japan falls to U.S. in baseball, to meet S. Korea in semis

BEIJING, China - Japanese manager Senichi Hoshino reacts and tilts his head after the United States scored four runs in the 11th inning of a final game of the preliminary round of the Beijing Olympic Games at Wukesong Baseball Field on Aug. 20. Japan went down 4-2 to the United States.

Naruse mows down Canada, Inaba homers in Japan's baseball win

Naruse mows down Canada, Inaba homers in Japan's baseball win

BEIJING, China - Japanese baseball players celebrate after beating Canada 1-0 in a preliminary game in the Beijing Olympic Games at Wukesong Sports Center Baseball Field in Beijing on Aug. 18.

Japan loses to Cuba in baseball prelims in Beijing

Japan loses to Cuba in baseball prelims in Beijing

BEIJING, China -Japan's starter Yu Darvish (C) is taken out of the game by manager Senichi Hoshino (L) in the fifth inning of an Olympic baseball preliminary game against Cuba at Wukesong Baseball Field in Beijing on Aug. 13. Japan lost to Cuba 4-2. (Kyodo)

Japan defeats Netherlands 6-0 in baseball (2)

Japan defeats Netherlands 6-0 in baseball (2)

BEIJING, China - Japan's starter Toshiya Sugiuchi pitches against the Netherlands in an Olympic preliminary game at Wukesong Baseball Field in Beijing on Aug. 15. Japan won 6-0. (Kyodo)

Japan defeats Netherlands 6-0 in baseball (1)

Japan defeats Netherlands 6-0 in baseball (1)

BEIJING, China - Japan's closer Kenshin Kawakami (C) celebrates with team members after beating the Netherlands 6-0 in an Olympic preliminary game at Wukesong Baseball Field in Beijing on Aug. 15. (Kyodo)

Japan defeats Netherlands 6-0 in baseball (3)

Japan defeats Netherlands 6-0 in baseball (3)

BEIJING, China - Japan's Takahiko G.G. Sato hits a solo homer against the Netherlands in eighth inning in an Olympic preliminary game at Wukesong Baseball Field in Beijing on Aug. 15. Japan won 6-0. (Kyodo)

Japan falls to U.S. in baseball

Japan falls to U.S. in baseball

BEIJING, China - Japan's starter Yu Darvish pitches against the United Sates in an Olympic preliminary game at Wukesong Baseball Field in Beijing on Aug. 20. Japan lost to the United States 4-2. The result on the final day of round-robin play sent Japan into fourth place with a 4-3 record for a meeting with Asian arch-rival South Korea in Friday's semifinals. (Kyodo)

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BEIJING, China - Japan's starter Hideaki Wakui pitches against China in an Olympic preliminary game at Wukesong Baseball Field in Beijing on Aug. 19. Japan beat China 10-0 in a game that was called after seven innings under the mercy rule. Japan will take on the United States in its final game of the preliminary round on Wednesday. (Kyodo)

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BEIJING, China - Japan's infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka (R) hits a two-run homer during the sixth inning of a game against China in an Olympic preliminary game at Wukesong Baseball Field in Beijing on Aug. 19. Japan beat China 10-0 in a game that was called after seven innings under the mercy rule. Japan will take on the United States in its final game of the preliminary round on Wednesday. (Kyodo)

South Korea downs Japan 6-2 to reach Olympic baseball final

South Korea downs Japan 6-2 to reach Olympic baseball final

BEIJING, China - Lee Seung Yeop, who plays for Japan's Yomiuri Giants, celebrates after hitting a tiebreaking two-run homer off Japan's Hitoki Iwase in the bottom of the eighth inning, lifting South Korea to a 6-2 victory over Japan in the semifinals of the baseball tournament of the Beijing Olympics at Wukesong Baseball Field in Beijing on Aug. 22. (Kyodo)

South Korea downs Japan 6-2 to reach Olympic baseball final

South Korea downs Japan 6-2 to reach Olympic baseball final

BEIJING, China - Japan manager Senichi Hoshino shakes hands with Lee Seung Yeop after South Korea beat Japan 6-2 in the semifinals of the baseball tournament of the Beijing Olympics at Wukesong Baseball Field in Beijing on Aug. 22. Lee, who plays for Japan's Yomiuri Giants, hit a tiebreaking two-run homer off Japan's Hitoki Iwase in the bottom of the eighth inning. (Kyodo)

Japan falls to U.S. in baseball, to meet S. Korea in semis

Japan falls to U.S. in baseball, to meet S. Korea in semis

BEIJING, China - Japanese manager Senichi Hoshino reacts and tilts his head after the United States scored four runs in the 11th inning of a final game of the preliminary round of the Beijing Olympic Games at Wukesong Baseball Field on Aug. 20. Japan went down 4-2 to the United States. (Kyodo)

Naruse mows down Canada, Inaba homers in Japan's baseball win

Naruse mows down Canada, Inaba homers in Japan's baseball win

BEIJING, China - Japanese baseball players celebrate after beating Canada 1-0 in a preliminary game in the Beijing Olympic Games at Wukesong Sports Center Baseball Field in Beijing on Aug. 18. (Kyodo)