S. Korea Loses to Padres 10-4 in Friendly

South Korea's baseball squad suffered a 10-4 loss to San Diego Padres, a Major League team, at an exhibition game Wednesday, dimming its hopes for the second round of the World Baseball Classic slated to begin Saturday, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Five South Korean pitchers, including starter Kim Kwang-hyun, who gave eight runs to Japan in the first round, allowed 14 hits and 10 runs to the American players during the friendly match in Peoria, Ariz.

In the eighth inning, Korean batters scored four runs on five hits, with slugger Lee Dae-ho going 2-for-4. The South Korean squad's only Major Leaguer, Cleveland Indians Choo Shin-soo, made up for his no hit performance with a walk. Choo, who complained of pain in his elbow, was cleared by his club's staff to continue with his national team in the WBC on condition that he play as a designated hitter.

Team Korea, a semifinalist at the inaugural WBC, advanced to the second round as the winner of Pool A by defeating archrival Japan 1-0 in their final match.

After the five-day training session in Arizona, which includes friendly matches with San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, the squad will move to San Diego Saturday and take on the winner of Pool B, either Cuba or Mexico, on March 15.