Tomoya Satozaki’s home run and Michihiro Ogasawara’s two-run single plus a stellar pitching effort by Seibu Lions ace Daisuke Matsuzaka sparked Japan past Mexico, 6-1, in the first global showdown featuring Major League Baseball talent.

A controversial umpire overrule call cost Japan a run in a 4-3 loss to the US team Sunday. But if the Japanese can beat unbeaten South Korea on Wednesday they could eliminate the Americans before Thursday’s US-Mexico final matchup.

Instead of gloating, Japanese manager Sadaharu Oh tried to put the irksome US loss behind his team and prepare them for the challenge of facing a Korean squad that beat Japan 3-2 in Tokyo in the opening round.

"What has happened has happened. It’s in the past. It’s done. It’s over," Oh said. "What we are looking at is the future. We must win more. We can’t give them any runs.

"With all of that, we’re going to give our best, everything we have. If we can win, there won’t be any problems."

The Dominican Republic used that philosophy to become the first team to clinch a berth in Saturday’s semifinals at nearby San Diego, edging Venezuela 2-1 at San Juan, Puerto Rico, to take a berth from Caribbean group play.

Dominican Daniel Cabrera struck out seven in four innings and combined with four relief pitchers to hurl a one-hitter, but it took a Venezuelan mistake in the seventh inning to push home the winning run.

Alberto Castillo singled, stole second base and reached third on a single by Placido Polanco, then scored when Venezuela catcher Ramon Hernandez muffed a throw from relief pitcher Kelvim Escobar with slugger Albert Pujols batting.

The Dominicans will face the winner of Wednesday’s game between host Puerto Rico and reigning Olympic champion Cuba in a Saturday semifinal. The Puerto Ricans routed Cuba 12-2 in a first-round game.

Complex tie-breaker procedures could be needed in Anaheim, but the bottom line for the disappointing US millionaires lineup is they will be eliminated if Japan scores seven runs or fewer in a nine-inning victory over the Koreans.

That would send Japan and South Korea into a Saturday semifinal showdown.

The Americans might already be out had US umpire Bob Davidson not overruled compatriot Brian Knight’s call to negate a Japanese run Sunday, saying Classic steals-leader Tsuyoshi Nishioka left third base too soon after a fly out.

"I’m still not satisfied with the umpire’s call on Sunday night but umpires are human being too. All I can do is move on," Japanese third baseman Akinori Iwamura said.

"I was not convinced with the outcome," Matsuzaka said. "One day off helped. I was rejuvenated. We know that from now on we cannot lose."

Matsuzaka, a 25-year-old righthander, surrendered only one hit and struck out two in five shutout innings.

"My pitches were starting to come along as the innings went by," Matsuzaka said. "I was trying to be too accurate on the corners at the beginning but I started not to worry about it too much as my pitches were going really well."

Japanese batters, who lead the Classic with a .333 average, pounded out 12 hits off a Mexican pitching staff that had been third in the Classic with a 2.38 earned-run average.