THE SIDELINES : Japan Beats U.S. Baseball Team

Japan capitalized on first baseman Mike Rennack’s error for the winning run in the bottom of the final inning and edged the United States 4-3 today in the eight-nation World Youth Baseball Championships.

Playing in the Tokyo Dome, the Americans took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Widd Walkman of Gilbert High School in Arizona walked with the bases loaded.

In the top of the seventh, Chris Smith of Vallejo, Calif., singled in a run to give the Americans a 3-2 lead. But Japan scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh.