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Premier12, Gold Medal Game: USA – South Korea 0-8
South Korea 101 500 001 8 13 0 USA 000 000 000 0 5 0
South Korea has won the inaugural edition of the Premier12. On Saturday evening they defeated the United States of America 8-0 in the Gold Medal Game at the Tokyo Dome in front of an official attendance of 40,411. A five-run fourth blew the game open early and pathed the way for the 2008 Olympic Champion. Japan had defeated Mexico 11-1 earlier on the day to win the bronze medal.
It was a meeting between the stars of South Korea’s pro league KBO and a selection of former Major Leaguers and current Minor Leaguers from the US. Just two batters into the game South Korea had a 1-0 lead after Yong Kyu Lee drove in Keun Woo Jeong with a RBI double. In the third Lee scored their second run through another double by Hyun Soo Kim.
In the fifth South Korea put the game into the books with a rally. Kim got things going with a two-run double. Two batters later Byung Ho Park hit a three-run home run to them ahead 7-0. A bases loaded walk by Jeong in the ninth added a late insurance run.
Meanwhile Team USA couldn’t do anything against the South Korean pitching. Elliot Soto and Matt McBride each got on base twice. However nonetheless not one base runner reached third base. The pitching of Kwang Hyun Kim, Chang Min Lim, Woo Chan Cha, Tae Hyon Chong and Sang Woo Cho shut the American offense down with Kim picking up the win with five scoreless innings to start the game.
Zack Segovia got charged with the loss, surrendering four hits and two runs in two-plus innings.
Photo by WBSC