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TOKYO (AP) — The United States scored five runs in the fourth inning to beat Mexico 6-1 and reach the Premier12 baseball final on Friday.
The U.S., made up of players not on 40-man MLB rosters, takes on South Korea in the final on Saturday. The Koreans beat Japan 4-3 on Thursday.
"I was very impressed with the Korean team," U.S. manager Willie Randolph said. "They came back against Japan and are a very good team, but right now we feel like we are the team to beat."
Mexico took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a solo homer by Humberto Sosa, but the U.S. quickly rallied at Tokyo Dome.
After Adam Frazier's two-out RBI single, Dan Rohlfing hit a two-run double to make it 3-1.
Elliot Soto followed with a single to right, driving in Rohlfing and advancing to third on an error.
Jacob May capped the five-run outburst with a line drive that scored Soto.
Jarret Grube was supposed to start for the U.S. but had a stiff neck so Randolph went with Zeke Spruill on short notice. The right-hander gave up one run on five hits over five innings for the win.
"Spruill did an outstanding job," Randolph said.
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