SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. -- Grant Holman almost gave away a crucial victory with his arm, then took it back with his bat. After being victimized for a three-run homer that put his Chula Vista, Calif., team in a hole on Wednesday night, the tall right-hander hit a three-run homer in the top of the ninth, and California rallied for a 6-3 victory over New England champion Westport, Conn., to earn a berth in the U.S. championship game at the Little League World Series. "All I wanted to do was hit it hard," Holman said, his right arm in ice after a 10-strikeout performance and winning reliever Rennard Williams smiling at his side. Micah Pietila-Wiggs laced a one-out single to left, his third hit of the game, to start the ninth and Jake Espinoza followed with a double to right-centre before Holman connected off reliever Alex Reiner. Chula Vistas bullpen came up big, shutting down Westport over the final five innings. "It was fabulous," Chula Vista manager Rick Tibbett said about his relief corps. "Thats what they do." Matt Brown hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth for Connecticut, and the Northeast champions seemed headed for a big victory. But California shortstop Nick Mora hit his second homer of the game to make it 3-2 with one out in the top of the sixth and Chula Vista tied it when Reiner threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded. The victory snapped Connecticuts 20-game winning streak. "Its disappointing, of course, to lose," Westport manager Tim Rogers said. "Its painful to be so close to winning and lose. Obviously, theyre a very talented team. Theres no holes in their lineup whatsoever. Well play tomorrow." Westport plays Northwest champion Sammamish, Wash., on Thursday. Sammamish (3-1) moved on to the matchup in the U.S. bracket by eliminating Nashville, Tenn., 6-5 on Tuesday. Westport was coming off a 9-7 victory over Sammamish on Sunday. Holman pitched 3 2-3 strong innings. Chasing his second no-hitter of the World Series, Holman had struck out nine -- including the first six batters he faced, swinging -- and was cruising when Max Popken drew a leadoff walk to start the fourth. Harry Azadian broke up Holmans no-hit bid with a single to right field and Brown then homered. TOKYO, JAPAN 5, TIJUANA, MEXICO 2 The big bats of Tijuana, Mexico, were silenced by Tokyo, Japan, in the first game Wednesday. When Brandon Montes crushed a home run off Japan starter Kazuki Ishida, the big bats of Mexico seemed ready to rumble again. "I definitely felt chills," Ishida said. "But I made sure to keep my composure and keep on throwing." And hitting. Taken out after three innings with an eye on a future game, Ishida slammed a tie-breaking home run in the bottom of the fifth inning and unbeaten Tokyo rallied past powerful Tijuana 5-2 on Wednesday to earn a berth in the international championship game at the Little League World Series. Westport, Conn., faced powerful Chula Vista, Calif., under the lights in Wednesdays other game in the double-elimination tournament. Ishidas blast came off Tijuana starter Ramon Mendoza. Kouyou Mizushima followed with an RBI single and pinch-hitter Kyousuke Kobayashi capped the winning rally for Japan (3-0) with an RBI double off the left-centre field wall. "Im glad that we won. Everybodys starting to get their groove back," said Seiya Nishino, whose pinch-hit home run tied it at 2 in the fourth. Mexico (2-1) still has a shot. It will play Aguadulce, Panama, on Thursday in a rematch. Mendoza hit two of Tijuanas five home runs in a 13-0 four-inning win over Panama on Sunday in the winners bracket. That game was stopped because of Little Leagues 10-run rule, the second time Mexico had done that in the World Series. Not on this day, though. Ishida and winning reliever Ryutarro Takeo kept the Mexican players off-balance with a variety of off-speed pitches, never allowing the Tijuana offence to get untracked. Mexico, which also beat Perth, Australia, 12-0 in 4 innings last week, managed just five hits against Japan. "They handle their pitchers well," Tijuana manager Francisco Fimbres said. "They paint the corners, a lot of breaking balls down low. Ill have to congratulate Japans pitchers. The first two games we hit great. It might have been a little bit of nervousness with the importance of the game." Mexico took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Axcel Mandujano reached on an error by third baseman Shunpei Takagi, who bobbled Mandujanos bouncer and threw wide of first as the Mexican player ducked under the tag. The call stood as ruled after a challenge by Japan, and after Jorge Romero bounced into a fielders choice, eliminating pinch-runner Luis Manzo, left-handed hitting shortstop Jorge Rodriguez doubled down the left-field line over the outstretched glove of Kobayashi to score Romero from first. Japan evened the score in the bottom of the second. Kouyou Mizushima had a hustling double to right centre and scored on a two-out single up the middle by Ryusei Hirooka. Montes, who homered on the fifth pitch of the game in Mexicos rout of Panama, struck again in the top of the third. He slammed an 0-1 delivery well over the fence in left-centre for a 2-1 lead. Mendoza got out of a big jam in the bottom of the inning as his pitch count mounted. He walked Ishida to start the inning and Sho Miyao followed with an infield single that caromed off Mendozas glove. That gave Japan two men on and nobody out, but first baseman Jorge Rodriguez robbed Shunpei Takagi with a beautiful stop behind the bag as the runners moved into scoring position and Mendoza induced two weak popups to escape. Mendoza ran out of luck in the bottom of the fourth when Nishino crushed a 1-0 pitch far over the fence in centre to tie it again. Cheap MLB Jerseys . -- Ohio States Urban Meyer has never had any issue acclimating to the biggest stages in college football. Cheap Roberto Alomar Jersey . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami. http://www.cheaporiolesjerseys.com/ . 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CINCINNATI -- Cody Reed finally gave a good showing in the majors, an encouraging sign for a Reds team that took another tough loss.The Reds rallied for a pair of runs to tie it in the ninth, but Ender Inciarte hit a sacrifice fly in the 11th that sent the Atlanta Braves to a 5-4 victory on Tuesday night, evening a series between the NLs worst teams.Reed had lost his last four starts and was struggling in his adjustment to the majors. The right-hander finally got it right in his sixth start, allowing two unearned runs and five hits in six innings.He was really strong over the final few innings, and thats something wed like to see more of, manager Bryan Price said. I thought he slowed his tempo down to the point where it was controllable.Reed gave up several hard-hit balls in the first two innings but escaped trouble and relaxed for the first time.I was really trying to keep my confidence level up, Reed said. The first two innings, I was too quick. I was rushing the ball.Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Tyrell Jenkins, who went six innings in his second major league start. It was Bruces 19th homer.The Reds fell behind 4-2 when Gordon Beckham hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh. Beckham broke his 0-for-16 slump with a single in the first, and then connected off reliever Michael Lorenzen for his first homer since July 9.You certainly want to go after anybody in that situation, but Lorenzen just wasnt locked in, Price said.Atlantas bullpen blew a late lead for the second time in four games. Jim Johnson gave up four hits and a pair of runs in the ninth. Zack Cozart tied it with a single. Johnson, who is filling in as the closer, has blown three of his five save chances.Nick Markakis started Atlantas winning rally with a single off Tony Cingrani (2-3) and took third on Jeff Francoeurs single off Blake Wood. Inciartes fly to deep center broke thee tie.ddddddddddddMauricio Cabrera (1-0) got the last five outs for his first career win. The 22-year-old reliever fanned Cozart on a 102 mph fastball to end it.The win evened the teams season series at three games apiece. Atlanta is last in the NL at 33-61. Cincinnati is next at 35-59.STATSSince returning from a left hamstring injury, Beckham is 6 for 31 in eight games. ... Bruces homer gave him a team-high 66 RBI. The Reds are looking to trade the right fielder this month -- they had a deal fall through in the offseason.SO LONGBraves interim manager Brian Snitker was ejected in the 10th by first base umpire Angel Hernandez. Adonis Garcia singled and was picked off by Cingrani. Snitker argue that the left-hander had balked.CROSSING SPORTSBengals cornerback Adam Pacman Jones was the field for batting practice. He talked to several players and signed autographs for fans.TRAINERS ROOMBraves: RHP Shae Simmons felt good a day after he threw nearly 30 pitches in a simulated game. Hell start a rehab assignment in a couple of days. Simmons is recovering from Tommy John surgery a year ago.Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips was back in the starting lineup. He missed two games with a strained right calf, returned on Monday night and left after tweaking it in the fifth inning. ... RHP Jon Moscot had Tommy John surgery. He went 0-3 with an 8.02 ERA in five starts for the Reds. He also had two stints on the disabled list.UP NEXTBraves: Lucas Harrell (1-1) makes his fourth start. Hes faced the Reds once before, allowing two runs in five innings in 2013.Reds: Anthony DeSclafani (4-0) makes his eighth start. Hes had six quality starts, most on the staff. DeSclafani is 4-0 in his last five starts w