YOKOHAMA (Japan) -- Eddy Alvarez sat in American dugout following the final out and buried his face in his hands. He wept even though his biggest game was still ahead.A 7-2 victory over defending champion South Korea on Thursday night set up a gold-medal matchup against Japan and assured the 31-year-old speedskater-turned-second baseman of becoming only the third American to earn medals at both the Summer and Winter Olympics.Alvarez stated, "I was emotional because it involved a lot sacrifice." It's still unbelievable to me. It's still a job, but I know it's not over.Alvarez was crying as Nick Martinez, Nick Martinez and Edwin Jackson patted him on his back. They also exchanged handshakes with Alvarez.Alvarez, who was part of the U.S. short track four-man team in Sochi 2014, will be able to earn at least a second in baseball. Other Americans who have won summer and winter medals include Eddie Eagen, boxing in 1920 and bobsled 1932 respectively, and Lauryn Wils (track and track in 2004 and 2012, and bobsled again in 2014).Alvarez bats.350 in this Games with three RBIs. Alvarez's skating team was 0.271 seconds slower than Russia in the 5,000-meter relay at Sochi. However, three of the four gold medalists were expelled from the 2018 Winter Games due to suspicions of doping."I won't lie. I feel cheated. Alvarez stated that there was probably some suspicion. "Obviously, I cannot speak too much about this because they still have a gold medal. But I do know that they worked hard. They've come a long way over the years and I can see how much they have improved."But, yes, this feels like an a little redemption trip there, giving me a second chance at winning gold."The U.S. team, consisting of veterans and prospects, is seeking America's second baseball gold medal. Martinez (1-0) will start Saturday's game against Japan (5-0). Martinez (1-0), who was previously a pitcher for the Pacific League's Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, is familiar with the ballpark.Lopez scored his first two runs in the Olympics against South Korea with RBI singles. Jamie Westbrook also hit a solo homer and Tyler Austin had a two-run double as the U.S. took a 7-1 lead. The sixth was a five-run win. Alvarez and Mark Kolozsvary drove in runs.Alvarez lifted his right arm to celebrate a Carter line drive, then he hugged Nick Allen.Westbrook stated, "It's so cool being around him and kinda learn from him how interact with other countries."Alvarez is a trusted source of Olympic advice for baseball-loving teammates.U.S. starter Joe Ryan stated that he was only giving us tips and tricks to help us in times of pressure. It's an honor playing with him.Alvarez, a 31-year-old infielder for Miami's Triple A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp was drafted by the Marlins last season. He hit.189 and had zero RBIs in 12 games.Third baseman Todd Frazier stated, "Not many people get a second time in the Olympics. So let's do that for him." "I would play with him regardless of what," Todd Frazier said.Eddy Alvarez (left), who was a speedkating medalist in 2014 and won a medal for the United States, will now join Eddie Eagen, Lauryn Williams, and other Americans to win Olympic medals at the Summer and Winter Games. AP Photo/Sue OgrockiJoe Ryan, a right-hander aged 25 who was acquired by the Minnesota Twins last month in a trade that sent Nelson Cruz from the Tampa Bay Rays to Minnesota, took a 2-1 lead, after allowing four runs in 4 1/3 innings.Ryder Ryan (1-0), 26-year old right-hander at Texas Triple-A Round Rock pitched 1 2/3 innings without a hit for the Americans' second victory over South Korea. This came after a 4-2 win in the first round.Lopez, a 28 year-old infielder who was promoted by the Boston Red Sox to Triple-A Worcester in May, hit a two-out RBI double in the second. This was his first hit in eight Olympic games. Lopez is the nephew of Onix Concepcion, a former shortstop in big league baseball.For a 2-0 lead in fourth, Westbrook scored about 20 rows from the left-field seats.South Korea (3-3) faces the Dominican Republic (2-3), for the bronze. Park Hae-min chased Joe Ryan in the fifth with an RBI single.Ryder Ryan only needed two pitches to escape from two-on trouble. Kang Baekho was able to ground into an inning-ending double-play.In the sixth, American hitters batted against four relievers. Lopez and Kolozsvary had RBI singles. Alvarez's RBI grounder made it 5-1. Austin hit a two-run home run in his home park of the Central League's Yokohama DeNA BayStars. He now has seven RBIs.Scott McGough gave Oh Ji-hwan a double RBI in the seventh. Anthony Gose, who throws at up to 98mph, relieved Scott McGough with two on. He got a pair called third strikes and pitched an inning without a hit. Carter was able to complete the ninth with a perfect 9.U.S. reliefrs will be granted a day to recover for the gold-medal match.Mike Scioscia, U.S. manager said that the bottom line was that it says USA across our jerseys and that these men are competing for a gold-medal this weekend. It doesn't get better than that.Japan is the favourite, having stopped its major league season in order to make the best players available for the Olympics. The Japanese defeated the United States 7-6 in 10 innings Monday in the second round of double elimination."I'm going to enjoy this moment. It's going to be a great experience. Alvarez stated that he would call his wife and parents, who are just as deserving as me. "Then we'll move on to Saturday and then I'll celebrate."
