SAN FRANCISCO, March 18 (UPI) -- Alex Rios smashed a two-run homer Sunday and Puerto Rico advanced to the World Baseball Classic final with a 3-1 victory over Japan.
With Puerto Rico clinging to a 1-0 lead in the seventh inning, Mike Aviles led off the frame with a single against Atsushi Nohmi and Rios followed by blasting a pitch into the left-field stands of San Francisco's AT&T Park.