Big inning earns Korea Olympic spot, WBSC Premier12 final

Korea used a seven-run fifth inning rally to defeat Mexico, 7-3, and advance to the final of the WBSC Premier12 2019. Korea's win also qualifies Samurai Japan to Sunday’s championship game. Korea thus also earned the Asia/Oceania Region spot in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Mexico collapsed just after taking the lead on a two-run home run by Jonathan Jones. The bullpen faced 11 Korean batters before collecting the three outs in the bottom of the fifth. Four relievers needed 64 pitches to complete the task, only 35 were strikes.

Mexico will play in the bronze medal game and is still aiming at the Americas spot in the Olympics.

Korean starter Jong-hun Park used a little help from his defense early in the game. Mexico’s third baseman Jorge Flores grounded into a double play to end the second inning, first baseman Byung-ho Park highlighted the third inning with a spectacular diving catch on a line drive by Jonathan Jones. Park got himself out of trouble in the fourth with back to back strikeouts.

Jones stepped up to the plate with a runner on in the top of the fifth and one out. The out came on a strong throw by shortstop Kim Jaewhan to first base.

Jones looked at a ball and then was all over a pitch located right in the middle of the strike zone by Jong-hun Park.

Reliever Brennan Bernardino had recorded the last out of the fourth inning after replacing Mexico’s starter Manuel Barreda. He walked left fielder Hyun-soo Kim to lead off the bottom of the fifth and left. Nine batters later, Hyun-soo Kim cleared the bases with a three-run double off Humberto Catellanos, the fourth pitcher Mexico sent to the mound.

Mexico added a run thanks to back to back doubles by Efren Navarro and Alì Solis off reliever Young-haLee in the top of the sixth but never had a real chance to come back.

Jaehoon Ha and Sangwoo Cho sealed the win using a total of 25 pitches to complete back to back perfect innings.