Brian Barden's RBI single touched off a four-run 11th Wednesday, giving the U.S. baseball team a 4-2 win over Japan to end the Olympic preliminary round.

The victory allowed the United States (5-2) to finish ahead of Japan (4-3) in third place and earn the dubious distinction of meeting Cuba in the Friday's semifinals. Japan will take on unbeaten South Korea in the other semifinal.

The U.S.-Japan game was scoreless through nine innings, at which time the new international rule was put in place that causes runners to be put on first and second base to start an extra inning.

Neither team could take advantage in the 10th but the Americans broke through in the top of the 11th and limited the Japanese to two runs in the bottom half.

Nate Schierholtz and Matt Brown also singled in runs in the 11th and another run came on on a ground out by John Gall.

South Korea finished its run through the round-robin portion of the tournament by downing the Netherlands 10-0 and Cuba crushed China 17-1. China finished with a 1-6 record and was shut out three times.

Bookmark this news