Rodriguez delivers in clutch as Team USA edges Japan

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Even the Americans figured they caught a break.

Former Mariner Alex Rodriguez hit a bases-loaded, two-out single in the ninth inning to give the United States a 4-3 victory over Japan in the opener of the second round in the inaugural World Baseball Classic after the losers appeared to be deprived of the go-ahead run.

It looked as if Japan snapped a 3-3 tie against Joe Nathan in the eighth when Akinori Iwamura flied to left with one out and the bases loaded.

Tsuyoshi Nishioka beat ex-Mariner Randy Winn's throw home, and second-base umpire Brian Knight ruled safe when Team USA appealed the play. But plate umpire Bob Davidson overruled the call after a brief discussion with the other umpires.

"The wrong umpire made the initial call," Davidson said in a statement issued afterward. "That's the plate umpire's call. I had it lined up. It's my call, and I had him leaving early and called him out."

Davidson is one of 22 major-league umpires who lost their jobs in the 1999 labor dispute. He is a minor-league ump who fills in at the big-league level.

"It gave us a huge lift. I mean, it changes the game," said U.S. first baseman Derrek Lee, who hit a two-run homer in the sixth to tie the score. "You don't see a call like that overturned very often, so we definitely got a gift right there.

"But we'll take it, it worked out for us."

It didn't appear Nishioka left before Winn made the catch on the television replay, and Japan manager Sadaharu Oh argued to no avail.

"It's just unimaginable that this could have happened, or this did happen, in the U.S., where baseball is very famous and popular," Oh said through a translator. "And it's a pity that it was overruled."

Team USA manager Buck Martinez said he didn't know if he has ever had such a call reversed.

"I know I've appealed a play once in Fenway on a very similar type of play, once in Seattle," he said. "That was a good feeling today to have that one go in our favor. I had a really good look at it. Everybody on the bench reacted the same way, which validates what I thought was happening."

Japan loaded the bases in the top of the ninth on three walks before winner Brad Lidge, Team USA's sixth pitcher, struck out Hiyoshi Tamura to end the inning.

Ex-Mariner Ken Griffey struck out before Rodriguez appeared to be jammed on a 1-1 pitch, but his grounder got past losing pitcher Kyuji Fujikawa and Nishioka's sliding attempt behind second was unsuccessful as Winn, who plays for San Francisco, scored from third.

Rodriguez, the New York Yankees' third baseman, went 2 for 5, making him 7 for 14 in the Classic.

Mariners outfielder Ichiro homered for Japan before an announced crowd of 32,896.

Other games

Cuba 7, Venezuela 2

Former Mariners shortstop Omar Vizquel, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, missed a double-play opportunity and gave up an additional out on a fielder's choice, and Cuba capitalized on his mistakes with a five-run sixth inning in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Frederich Cepeda hit a three-run homer and Ariel Pestano added a solo shot as the underdog Cubans broke out after Venezuela starter Johan Santana departed.

Puerto Rico 7, Dominican Republic 1

Javier Vazquez, Jose Santiago, Kiko Calero and J.C. Romero combined to limit the Dominican Republic to one run and six hits in San Juan.

Adrian Beltre of the Mariners homered for the Dominican Republic.

Ex-Mariner Jose Cruz Jr. went 3 for 5 with three runs batted in for Puerto Rico.