WBSC tourney roundup: Team USA advances

Behind a five-run fourth inning and a strong pitching performance from starter Zeke Spruill, Team USA beat Mexico, 6-1, in Friday's semifinals of the WBSC Premier12 tournament in Japan.

The U.S. moves on to face South Korea, an upset winner over previously unbeaten Japan in Thursday's other semifinal, in the championship on Saturday (5 a.m. ET) in Tokyo.

Adam Frazier (Pirates), who went 3-for-4 on the day and was a catalyst in Team USA's decisive rally in the fourth, was named the Player of the Game.

Mexico's Humberto Sosa broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth with a solo homer off Spruill (Red Sox), but that lead was short-lived.

Team USA stormed back for five runs in the bottom of the inning with hits from Matt McBride (Rockies), Dan Black, Frazier, Dan Rohlfing (Mets), Elliot Soto (Marlins) and Jacob May (White Sox).

Spruill gave up just the one run in five innings and got the victory. Tyler Pastornicky tacked on the sixth run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

A pair of D-backs farmhands -- Seth Simmons (two hits, one walk and four strikeouts) and Jake Barrett (one hit, one strikeout) -- combined for four innings of scoreless relief for the U.S.

Team USA beat South Korea, 3-2, in pool play earlier in the tournament.