Notes and images courtesy of WBSC.
The knockout phase begins with an elimination game between Mexico and Israel. The defending gold medalist Korea will face the Dominican Republic in the night game. Two games are scheduled at Yokohama Stadium on Sunday, 1 August, round one of the knockout phase in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic baseball tournament.
Mexico will face Israel at noon local time. Mexico has picked right-hander Manny Barreda as the starting pitcher. The 32-year-old veteran began his professional career in 2007 and is currently playing at the Triple-A level for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). Israel will hand the ball to 34-year-old right-hander Josh Zeid, who has played for six different MLB organizations.
Mexico – Israel Notes
- Olympic Games baseball debutants Mexico and Israel will meet for the first time in a major international tournament.
- Mexico fell to Dominican Republic (1-0) and Japan (7-4) at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
- Israel took Republic of Korea into extra innings, but lost their opener 6-5. Their second match ended in an 8-1 defeat against United States.
- Israel’s Ryan Lavarnway is the 2020 Games’ leader in home runs (2), slugging percentage (1.250) and batting average (.500).
- Mexico’s Joey Meneses also has a tournament leading mark of .500 in batting average (4-for 8).
- Israel have hit four home runs at the 2020 Games (by Danny Valencia, Ian Kinsler and Lavarnway), most of all nations. Meneses hit Mexico’s only homer.
- Israel batters have struck out 26 times at Tokyo 2020, at least six times more than any other nation.
- Mexico batters have struck out only 11 times at Tokyo 2020, at least five times fewer than any other nation. Efrén Navarro had four of those 11 strikeouts.
South Korea will play the Dominican Republic on Sunday at 7 pm local time. Korea is going with rookie Euilee Lee as the starting pitcher. The 19-year old left-hander started 14 games for the Kia Tigers in his rookie Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) season. The Dominican Republic has selected 43-year old left-handed veteran Raul Váldes as the starter. The Cuban-born pitcher earned a key win for the Dominican Republic against Puerto Rico during the WBSC Americas Qualifier.
Dominican Republic – South Korea Notes
- Dominican Republic and Republic of Korea will meet at the Olympic Games for the first time.
- Dominican Republic and Republic of Korea have played each other seven times at the World Cup, with Dominican Republic only beating Korea in 1976 (13-4) and 1984 (1-0).
- Dominican Republic lost their opening match at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to Japan (4-3) but countered with a win over Mexico (1-0).
- The Dominicans are the only side at the 2020 Games thus far to register a shutout win.
- Republic of Korea beat Israel in their opener (6-5, 10 innings) and lost to United States in their second game (4-2).
- Dominican Republic have hit five doubles at the 2020 Olympic Games, most of all teams.
- Dominican Erick Mejía has has a tournament leading mark of .500 in batting average.
- Republic of Korea’s Baekho Kang has walked three times at the 2020 Olympic Games, more than any other player.
