Premier12, First Round, Pool B: Mexico – South Korea 3-4
South Korea 211 000 000 4 8 1 Mexico 002 010 000 3 4 2
South Korea scored four runs in the first two innings and held on to a 4-3 nailbiter over Mexico in their four first-round game at the Premier12 at Tienmu Stadium in Taipei City. For South Korea it was their third in the tournament, while Mexico suffered its third loss.
Doubles by Hyun Soo Kim and Keun Woo Jeong in the first and second, as well as a solo home run by Byung Ho Park in the third gave the Olympic Champion from 2008 a 4-0 lead midway through the third. Mexico got on the board in the bottom of the third through a RBI triple by Juan Perez and a sac fly by Kevin Medrano. In the fifth Brandon Macias scored after an error to cut the deficit to a single run, but afterwards South Korea’s pitching was able to stop all scoring threats.
Woo Chan Cha got the win with eight strikeouts in three stellar innings of one-hit, one-walk relief. Cesar Carillo conceded four hits, four runs and four walks in three innings to take the loss.
South Korea closes out the first round with a matchup against Team USA at Tienmu Stadium on Sunday. Mexico faces the Dominican Republic at Taoyuan in the afternoon.