Updated: July 14, 2009, 10:35 AM ET
USA wins 8-4, takes 2-1 series lead
SENDAI, Japan -- Christian Colon drove in four runs Tuesday to lead the United States over Japan 8-4 in the U.S.-Japan college baseball championships and give the Americans a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series.
Colon put his team ahead 7-3 in the fourth inning with a three-run homer.
Sonny Gray took the mound in the fourth and held Japan scoreless on one hit the rest of the way to pick up the win, his second of the tournament.
Japan relief pitcher Yusuke Nomura took the loss after giving up three runs on four hits over 4 1/3 innings.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press
