Free Republic

Throughout their first three World Baseball Classics, the United States' burly batting order had some of the most prodigious sluggers in the Major Leagues, but that never got the Americans to the tournament's final game. So naturally that changed in a dramatic 2-1 semifinal victory over two-time Classic winner Japan on a wet, chilly Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium, courtesy of a regular old ground ball. With the score tied at 1 in the top of the eighth, Adam Jones' fielder's-choice RBI grounder was bobbled by Japan third baseman Nobuhiro Matsuda long enough to allow Brandon Crawford to score from...