World Baseball Classic Pool A: Korea – Chinese Taipei 9-0
TPE 000 000 000 0 5 0 KOR 600 012 00X 9 10 0
Olympic champion South Korea scored six runs in the opening frame en route to a 9-0 shutout over Chinese Taipei in Pool A of the 2009 World Baseball Classic at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. The team dominated on both sides of the game and will face Japan on Saturday. Taiwan takes on China with the loser going home.
Korea didn’t waste any time on Friday, loading the bases with no outs in the first on two walks and a hit batter. Tae Kyun Kim delivered and drove in two with a single to left field. After a flyout and a walk against Shin Soo Choo, Jin Young Lee cleared the bases with a grand slam in the stands in right-center field to make it 6-0.
The offense of the Beijing winner paused for a few innings, before adding some insurance. Dae Ho Lee extended the lead to 7-0 with a RBI single in the fifth. Keun-Woo Jeong finalized the score with a two-run shot to right field one frame later.
The pitching of Korea impressed as well. Hyunjin Ryu (W 1-0) allowed just one hit and two walks in three-plus innings, striking out three. Three relievers secured the five-hit shutout. Taiwan’s starter Chen Lee (L 0-1) didn’t make it out of the first inning. He gave up two hits, six runs and three base on balls, while getting just one batter out.
The offense of Chinese Taipei disappointed with the exception of leadoff hitter Che-Hsuan Lin, who went two-for-three with a walk in four plate appearances. Chih-Kang Kao and Yen-Wen Kuo each had singles.
Due to the double elimination format in round one of the WBC, Taiwan now faces elimination in game two on Saturday afternoon in Tokyo against China. A victory is a must for both teams or they have to travel home.