San Diego: The United States upset defending champions Dominican Republic 6-3 Saturday to reach the semi-finals of the World Baseball Classic where they will face two-time winners Japan. Giancarlo Stanton hit a tie-breaking two-run homer in the fourth inning for the Americans who reached the semi-finals of the international elite tournament for the first time since 2009. “We beat a great team and held down a great line-up. These guys were ready to play. Tonight we were the better team,” said US manager Jim Leyland. Andrew McCutchen added two-run double in the eighth at Petco Park and the US avenged a first-round loss to the Dominicans.