S. Korea, US are off to WBC semis
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 19, 2009 00:00
SAN DIEGO, California - South Korea scored the crucial runs at the start while United States waited until the last possible moment but both advanced to the World Baseball Classic semifinals with triumphs Tuesday.
Lee Jin Young smacked a two-run single off Japan starting pitcher Yu Darvish in a three-run first inning to power reigning Olympic champion South Korea past defending Classic champion Japan 4-1 here to reach this weekend's semifinals.
"Once we got the three runs in the beginning, we were able to hold the lead," Korean manager Kim In-Sik said. "Even though they are at a higher skill level that us, sometimes they lose. We're in the semifinals and we're happy."
David Wright smacked a two-run single just inside the right-field line with one out in the ninth inning to complete a dramatic US rally for a 6-5 victory over Puerto Rico at Miami that touched off a huge celebration at home plate.
"Every hitter in that dugout wants to be in that situation. That's what you dream about growing up as a kid," Wright said of the greatest moment of his career. "To be able to get that hit, that's got to be at the top of the list."
Joining Venezeula, the US and Korea will be joined by Wednesday's winner between Cuba and Japan.
US MLB stars were two outs from being eliminated in the second round, but pushed their redemption quest into the upcoming knockout stages at Dodger Stadium.
"We play the best baseball around the world," US manager Davey Johnson said. "The world is catching up with us, but we need to be there."
Three days after thumping the US squad in a game halted under the mercy rule, Puerto Rico managed only three hits in the first eight innings and just five on the night.
"It's big, especially getting a crack at a team that embarrassed us a few days earlier," Wright said. "To have the resiliency to bounce back in the ninth and to steal one from them I think was pretty big."
Carlos Delgado and Alex Rios blasted home runs off US starter Ted Lilly and Rios scored on a Ramon Vazquez single in the ninth for a 5-3 Puerto Rico edge. But two singles and a walk loaded the bases in the ninth and Kevin Youkilis walked to pull the hosts within a run, setting the stage for Wright's dramatic hit that ignited a home plate celebration.
"When you win the World Series and stuff like that, the dog pile is the same, that excitement and adrenaline rush," Youkilis said. "That was nuts to go out there and do that. You're celebrating a nation."
"Once we got the three runs in the beginning, we were able to hold the lead," Korean manager Kim In-Sik said. "Even though they are at a higher skill level that us, sometimes they lose. We're in the semifinals and we're happy."
David Wright smacked a two-run single just inside the right-field line with one out in the ninth inning to complete a dramatic US rally for a 6-5 victory over Puerto Rico at Miami that touched off a huge celebration at home plate.
"Every hitter in that dugout wants to be in that situation. That's what you dream about growing up as a kid," Wright said of the greatest moment of his career. "To be able to get that hit, that's got to be at the top of the list."
Joining Venezeula, the US and Korea will be joined by Wednesday's winner between Cuba and Japan.
US MLB stars were two outs from being eliminated in the second round, but pushed their redemption quest into the upcoming knockout stages at Dodger Stadium.
"We play the best baseball around the world," US manager Davey Johnson said. "The world is catching up with us, but we need to be there."
Three days after thumping the US squad in a game halted under the mercy rule, Puerto Rico managed only three hits in the first eight innings and just five on the night.
"It's big, especially getting a crack at a team that embarrassed us a few days earlier," Wright said. "To have the resiliency to bounce back in the ninth and to steal one from them I think was pretty big."
Carlos Delgado and Alex Rios blasted home runs off US starter Ted Lilly and Rios scored on a Ramon Vazquez single in the ninth for a 5-3 Puerto Rico edge. But two singles and a walk loaded the bases in the ninth and Kevin Youkilis walked to pull the hosts within a run, setting the stage for Wright's dramatic hit that ignited a home plate celebration.
"When you win the World Series and stuff like that, the dog pile is the same, that excitement and adrenaline rush," Youkilis said. "That was nuts to go out there and do that. You're celebrating a nation."