LOS ANGELES -- It's not easy to create tradition in a sport already dripping with it.

Baseball is defined by and obsessed with its heritage and rituals. Here comes the World Baseball Classic and it's as if Sunday School was switched to Saturday. Baseball purists dismiss the event as heresy.

But the tournament, first held in 2006 and concluding for the second time with Monday night's all-Asian championship game at Dodger Stadium, is catching on.

The U.S. players, who were among the most reluctant to embrace the WBC, are a major reason that non-believers have been converted.

On Sunday night, the Americans showed how much they cared in their semifinal loss to Japan. Dinged-up, missing three starters and a pitcher due to injury and facing Japan ace Daisuke Matsuzaka, the U.S. played with something to prove -- that baseball is still America's pastime. The U.S. watched Japan beat Cuba for the inaugural WBC title and settled for the bronze medal at last summer's Olympics while South Korea won gold.

This time, the U.S. was determined to reassert its superiority. Pride was on the line. The Americans' commitment could not be questioned, even if their execution could. Starter Roy Oswalt was battered early, mistakes were deadly and the potent U.S. offense failed to counterpunch, resulting in a 9-4 loss.

Once again, the country that invented baseball won't be playing for the WBC title. That's curious and humbling, but not unforeseen. It's globalization on the diamond. It's the Asian teams making a statement.

Japan will play South Korea for the title because Japan and South Korea played smarter baseball.

''Last time we were looking up to the USA,'' Ichiro Suzuki said. ``Not this time. I don't know why, but that's how this team is feeling.''

On a chilly, breezy, beautifully clear night, with snow visible on the mountaintop vista beyond the left field bleachers, the Samurai Warriors outplayed the home team, showing better control on the mound, surer hands in the field, more power at the plate and greater depth in the bullpen.

NOT PLAYING SHARP

Five runs by Japan were unearned due to three U.S. errors. U.S. pitchers were not sharp. But there is no reason for the U.S. to panic about the state of its baseball. The biggest difference between the two teams was that Japan had more preparation time for the WBC.

''It's one ball game,'' U.S. manager Davey Johnson said. ``Our pitchers are not as far along as theirs. When I was in Japan, spring training began in January. We put on a good show and could have just as easily won that game.''

Last-minute fill-in first baseman Mark DeRosa batted in two runs in the eighth, aided by an error in the left field corner by Aoki Norichika. The rally inspired a loud ''U-S-A!'' chant.

But there would be no comeback like the one last week in Miami, when the U.S. rallied from two runs down to beat Puerto Rico 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth.

After David Wright emerged from the bottom of a pile of exuberant teammates -- the kind of pile you see in Major League playoff games -- he said his game-winning hit was the kind he dreamed about as a kid.

The disappointment of the U.S. players further demonstrated how much the WBC meant to them.

''They play winning fundamental baseball,'' Jimmy Rollins said of Japan. ``They don't worry about the big things but do things right. They take advantage of another team's mistakes.''

Wright played despite a cracked nail on his big toe. Ryan Braun played despite a painful muscle strain. After first baseman Kevin Youkilis went out with an injury, DeRosa was called for help. DeRosa has played first base just 14 times in 11 years, but he told Johnson he would love to come to the rescue.

AN HONOR TO PLAY

Key American stars either declined to participate in the WBC or were prohibited by their clubs. But Derek Jeter insisted on being here. He considers wearing the U.S. uniform to be an honor and was critical of peers too chicken to play for their country.

''I have the same risk of injury in spring training as I do here,'' Jeter said. ``And this is something special.''

Nevertheless, the U.S. could not sustain any attack on Sunday. Nor could they take advantage of a shaky start by Matsuzaka. The U.S. had won the last four meetings with Japan, and led 2-1 in the third inning. Suspense returned in the eighth for the 43,630 fans, the largest WBC crowd on U.S. soil.

Major League commissioner Bud Selig, a cheerleader for the WBC, praised the U.S. players and the evolution of the event, though he had to be hoping for the U.S. to make the final.

''Someday when they realize how much they helped their sport they'll feel pretty good about themselves,'' Selig said.