Australia drops to Japan, keeps Korea hope alive

Keiji Takahashi of Japan pitches to Australia in the 5th inning during their Pool B game at the World Baseball Classic at the Tokyo Dome Sunday, March 12, in Tokyo. AP-Yonhap

Australia suffered its first loss of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) on Sunday against Japan, a result that gave Korea hope of advancing to the next stage.

Australia took a 7-1 loss in Pool B action at Tokyo Dome on Sunday to fall to 2-1 for the competition.

Korea defeated the Czech Republic 7-3 earlier Sunday to improve to 1-2. The Czech Republic fell to 1-2.

Japan became the first Pool B team to qualify for the quarterfinals following the Czech Republic's loss, and put the icing on the cake by beating Australia to finish at 4-0.

In order for Korea to join Japan, Korea must first have the Czechs beat Australia in a game starting at noon Monday. And then Korea must defeat China starting at 7 p.m. the same day.

That way, Korea, Australia and the Czech Republic will finish at 2-2.

Japan's Shohei Ohtani celebrates with his teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the World Baseball Classic (WBC) Pool B round game between Japan and Australia at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 12. AFP-Yonhap

The three tied countries will then go to a tiebreaker, using a formula based on runs allowed.

The first criterion is the lowest quotient of runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in games between the tied teams.

The next category looks at the earned runs allowed, using the same formula as above. The third criterion is the team batting average in games between the tied teams.

Korea lost to Australia 8-7 last Thursday and beat the Czech Republic 7-3 Sunday, both of them in nine innings.

Korea allowed 11 runs, all of them earned, over 18 innings, accounting for 54 defensive outs.

Australia allowed seven earned runs over nine innings, covering 27 outs, against Korea. (Yonhap)