WILLIAMSPORT, Pennsylvania (AFP) — Bulla Graft singled home the go-ahead run in the fourth inning Sunday as a US team downed Taoyuan Taiwan 6-3 in the Little League World Series youth baseball final.

Kiko Garcia pitched three-plus scoreless innings in relief to for the American team from Chula Vista, California, wrapping up the triumph by striking out Yu Chieh Kao.

Before the California players celebrated, they shook hands with their rivals, then invited the Taiwanese players to take the customary victory lap with them.

It was the fifth-straight US triumph.

Early on, it looked like an American repeat was in doubt.

Back to back home runs from Wen Hua Sung and Chin Ou in the third inning gave Taiwan a 3-0 lead.

California scored one run in the third, then took the lead in the fourth when Seth Godfrey plated a run with a sacrifice fly and Nick Conlin scored on a wild pitch.

Taiwan then walked slugger Luke Ramirez with two outs to bring up 12-year-old Graft, who hit a 1-1 pitch to right field to bring home Andy Rios. The Americans tacked on two runs in the fifth.