Tokyo - Korea came back from a devastating loss to Japan to turn the tables and win the final game of Pool A of the World Baseball Classic, 1-0, in a pitchers' duel on Monday night.
Japan starter Hisashi Iwakuma retired the first nine batters he faced but got himself into a jam in the top of the fourth inning. After walking leadoff man Jong Wook Lee, Iwakuma gave up a single to Keun Woo Jeong, and Tae Kyun Kim singled home Lee for the 1-0 lead.
Korean left-hander Jung Keun Bong was highly effective, allowing only three Japanese hits over the 5 1/3 innings, those being a pair of singles by Kenji Johjima and one by Hiroyuki Nakajima. Bong struck out two and walked none. Iwakuma also pitched 5 1/3 innings, giving up the one run on two hits. He struck out five and walked three. Korea finished Pool A with a 3-1 record, having defeated Chinese Taipei and China and splitting two games with Japan. Japan was 2-1, scoring victories over China and Korea. Both teams will join the winner and runner-up of Pool B (consisting of Australia, Cuba, Mexico and South Africa) to form Pool 1 and play at San Diego's PETCO Park, beginning on March 15.
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