Olympic gold medalists South Korea edged defending champions Japan 1-0 to win Pool A at the World Baseball Classic yesterday, avenging their earlier loss in the double-elimination round.
Clean-up hitter Kim Tae-kyun hit the winning run with a line-drive single in the fourth as South Korea rolled on with six hits against Japan’s four.
Japan humiliated South Korea 14-2 on Saturday in the all-Asian pool, with South Korea responding with a 14-0 shutout of China on Sunday.
PHOTO: AP
The top two Pool A teams will join Pool 1 of the Classic’s second round in San Diego, California.
South Korea will face the top team from Pool B, which includes Cuba, Mexico and Australia. Japan will take on the runner-up in the double-elimination second round.
Earlier on Sunday, a redemption-hungry US team ripped Venezuela 15-6 to qualify for the second round, while Australia shocked hosts Mexico 17-7 with a record 22-hit barrage.
Kevin Youkilis, Adam Dunn and Ryan Braun blasted home runs for the US in the win over Venezuela in Toronto as they try to atone for a second-round ouster in the inaugural 2006 global showdown featuring elite Major League Baseball players.
The Americans pounded out 16 hits and rallied from 3-2 down with eight runs in the sixth inning.
The Venezuelans must wait until today for another chance to advance when they face the winner of the Canada-Italy game.
As the US stars booked a trip to Miami next week, Australia pulled off a stunner against Mexico with the most hits ever in a Classic game, breaking the old mark of 18 set by the US in 2006.
Chris Snelling blasted two home runs for Australia, while Luke Hughes and Ben Risinger each belted another as an Aussie team with only four major league players manhandled a Mexican unit with four times as much talent from the US league.
A day after the Netherlands upset the Dominican Republic 3-2 in Puerto Rico, the Aussies won after eight innings in Mexico City under the 10-run “mercy” rule, forcing Mexico into an elimination game against South Africa.
Trent Oeltjen went four-for-five at the plate, with Andrew Graham four-for-six, Snelling three-for-five and Brett Ronberg and Brad Harman three-for-four for Australia, who did not win a game in 2006 after losing to Cuba in the 2004 Athens Olympic final.
The Aussies will play against Cuba today — 8-1 winners over South Africa — for a second-round berth in San Diego, where Olympic champions South Korea and defending Classic champions Japan have already booked their trips.
“Three years ago, we came here to get respect, to show people around the world we know how to play the game,” Deeble said. “Three years on, we’re looking to win. We’re not afraid of Cuba. We’re not afraid of Mexico ... our guys go out to play well and they go out to win.”
Cuba have reached the finals of 38 consecutive international events and made another solid start, setting a Classic record with six home runs against South Africa in the process.
Frederich Cepeda smashed two home runs, while Yulieski Gourriel, Yoennis Cespedes, Alfredo Despaigne and Hector Olivera also homered to break the mark of four homers in a game set by the Dominican Republic against Venezuela in 2006.
The Dominican Republic bounced back from their Dutch defeat with a 9-0 rout of Panama in an elimination game in Puerto Rico. Miguel Olivo smashed two home runs and Nelson Cruz hit another to oust Panama and keep Dominican hopes alive.
The Dominicans will play for a place in the second round today when they face the loser of the game between the Dutch and Puerto Rico.
Colorado’s Ubaldo Jimenez will be the starting pitcher today in what could be a revenge match against the Dutch.
“Moods have changed quite a bit in the dugout. Now we have a chance to settle accounts,” Alou said.
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