LG Twins pitcher Bong Jung-keun held Japanese batters to three hits over 5 1/3 innings on South Korea’s way to the Pool A title.
/ Yonhap |
Korea to Play Mexico in Round 2
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
As Cuba clinched the top-seed spot of Pool B, the World Baseball Classic (WBC), Thursday, wrapped up its first round, which started on March 5.
And the ``great" eight have remained in the tournament.
The Netherlands became the Cinderella team after eliminating the highly-favored Dominican Republic, which assembled an All-Star lineup, including David Ortiz, Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez, with a two-game sweep in Pool D, while other baseball powerhouses, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Cuba and the United States eased baseball fans' grief over the flop of the Dominican Republic, showing off their top-tier prowess.
South Korea, the 2006 semifinalist, topped Pool A after sweet revenge against defending champion Japan, which thrashed it 14-2 earlier in the Classic.
The second stage begins at Dolphins Stadium in Miami and Petco Park in San Diego from Saturday (Sunday KST).
This round is also played in a double-elimination format ― like the opening round ― but the pitch limits are raised to 85, compared to 70 in the first stage.
Pool A
After losing to Japan in a 14-2 called game, Korea, 3-1, recovered and shut out an Ichiro-led offense in the Pool A title game with a 1-0 win.
Its pitching has a 3.66 ERA, which is the sixth best in the Classic.
First baseman Kim Tae-kyun, who hit .417 with one home run and six RBIs, and outfielder Kim Hyun-soo, who averaged .385, leads the offense.
However, Kim Kwang-hyun, tagged as No. 1 starter before the event, has not found the rhythm that earned him 16 victories last season, while reeling batters at the bottom of the order are giving manager Kim In-sik a headache.
Japan, 2-1, has sent its best-ever players on the international stage to defend its title.
Local favorites Yu Darvish and Hisashi Iwakuma displayed solid performances, which helped Japan rank third in ERA with 1.08.
In offense, other than Kenji Johjima and Hiroyuki Nakajima, who both hit .500, and Norichika Aoki, no one hit above .300. Seattle Mariners star outfielder Ichiro Suzuki went 4-for-14 with no RBIs.
But they are on the upswing, winning their two exhibition tune-ups against the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs.
Pool B
Cuba, 3-0, is one of the two unbeaten nation in the WBC.
The Olympic silver medalist and 2006 WBC runner-up boasts its skills at both ends, sitting first in batting average and fifth in ERA.
In its opener with South Africa, the Caribbeans produced six home runs, a WBC record for most homers in a single game.
Starters Norge Vera and Aroldis Chapman delivered six and four scoreless innings, respectively, in the first round.
Mexico, 2-2, which is made up of former and active Major League players, was up and down ― winning two games by more than 10 runs, and falling by a double-figure margin.
San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and Lotte Giants outfielder Karim Garcia, who combined for five home runs and 12 RBIs, are the core of the order.
Pool C
Venezuela, 3-1, whose roster is as dazzling as that of the eliminated Dominican Republic, closed out the pool action, clinching the top seed after beating the United States.
Its batting average, led by Bobby Abreu, Ramon Herndez and Melvin Mora, is .347, the second best number among its rivals, and Detroit Tigers Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera, who each managed three and four hits, are always able to loft the ball over the fence.
They have a strong rotation, with Mariners hurler Carlos Silva and Enrique Gonzalez of the Boston Red Sox, who each tossed four scoreless innings ― but their bullpen issue is bothering them.
The United States, 2-1, is determined to repair its damaged reputation from the initial competition in 2006, where it was eliminated in the second round.
Adam Dunn of the Washington Nationals is brandishing a red-hot bat, going 3-for-6 with two dingers and six runs, and Team USA captain Derek Jeter is 4-for-9 with a batting average of .444.
But Major League All-Star pitchers Jake Peavy of the San Diego Padres and Roy Oswalt were shaky in their outings, while Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones is doubtful for the second round due to a mild oblique strain.
 Pool D
Puerto Rico, 3-0, is the other undefeated team in the Classic.
Braves hurler Javier Vazquez pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings against Panama, and San Francisco Giants lefty Jonathan Sanchez also tossed four shut-out innings against the United States.
New York Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez, who set a record for saves in a single season with 62 in 2008, works for a save.
Its team ERA is 0.33, the lowest number among eight qualifiers.
Another Met, Carlos Delgado, hit .833 and 14-time All-Star cater Ivan Rodriguez added two home runs with a .545 average.
The Netherlands, 2-2, is the surprise package of the tournament.
The unheralded nation in the sport ousted the big leaguer-studded Dominican Republic twice.
As the Dutch squad does not hit well ― 19 hits in four games with a .151 average ― and they will again depend highly on pitchers, which came in fourth with a 2.50, in the next round.
ksw@koreatimes.co.kr
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