Korea blanks Taiwan 9-0 in first WBC match

(ATTN: ADDS comments by Korean team manager in 6th, 9th para)
TOKYO, March 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea got off to a good start in the regional
round of the 2009 World Baseball Classic by routing Taiwan 9-0 Friday, boosted by
outfielder Lee Jin-young's grand slam in the first inning.

Lee, who played superb defense in the previous WBC, slammed a homer against
Taiwan's starter Lee Chen, following infielder Kim Tae-kyun's two-scoring hit to
allow South Korea to take the lead in the game held in Tokyo.
South Korea's starter Ryu Hyun-jin, who made an impressive showing against Cuba
at the Beijing Olympics finals last summer, struck out three batters, walked one
and gave up one hit in three innings.
At the bottom sixth, outfielder Jeong Keun-woo hit a two-run homer, and after Ryu
stepped down at the fourth inning, three relievers shut out Taiwan completely.
Cleveland Indians player Choo Shin-soo, the only major leaguer in the Korean
squad, produced a hit despite an elbow injury.
"I think Taiwan's starter gave up the game early, and we got chances. Our players
didn't miss the chances and made big scores," manager Kim In-shik told reporters
after the match. Kim guided the Korean team to the semifinals in the inaugural
WBC tournament three years ago.
On Saturday, Olympic champion Korea will take on arch rival Japan, who defeated
China 4-0 on Thursday, in a match that will determine the top leader of the Asian
regional round. Only two teams of four Asian nations will advance to the next
round scheduled to start on March 14 in the United States.
Kim expected a tough game with Japan, the reigning WBC champion. Boston Redsox
pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka will start the game, while Kim Kwang-hyun, who crushed
Japan twice in Beijing, is expected to fight against Team Japan.
"Japan's squad has a good balance between offense and defense -- competitive
pitchers and hitters," Kim said. "We will do our best as we always do, even
though Japan is stronger than we are."
brk@yna.co.kr
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