Olympics-Baseball-U.S. advances to golden game with Japan, South Korea to play for bronze vs Dominicans

Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Baseball - Men - Semifinal - South Korea v United States - Yokohama Baseball Stadium, Yokohama, Japan - August 5, 2021. United States players celebrate winning the game. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

YOKOHAMA, Japan (Reuters) -The United States restrained its excitement after defeating defending champions South Korea 7-2 on Thursday with a barrage of sixth-inning singles, as it looks ahead to a clash with Japan in baseball's first Olympic gold-medal game in 13 years.

Saturday's title match-up will for the first time feature the two most populous baseball-rabid countries, cementing shifts since the sport last appeared in the Olympics in 2008.