Taichung. 2011 IBAF Baseball World Cup winner Netherlands had a perfect start into the 2013 World Baseball Classic. They defeated Korea 5-0 behind a strong pitching performance in the evening game of day one of Pool B at Intercontinental Stadium in Taichung.
Left-hander Diegomar Markwell (W, 1-0) got the win, allowing just two hits and a walk in four scoreless innings. Orlando Yntema, Leon Boyd and Mark Pawelek completed the shutout, issuing just two more hits and three base and balls the rest of the game. Korea, which had won the last Baseball Gold Medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, managed no extra base hits and looked flat on offense.
It was quite the difference to the Dutch team, which took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Andruw Jones scored from third base on a sac fly by Curt Smith to right field. Two innings later Dashenko Ricardo scored on Roger Bernadina’s RBI fielder’s choice and Wladimir Balentien singled in Andrelton Simmons for a third run. In the seventh Bernadina drove in Simmons with a double and later scored on Jones’ groundout to make it 5-0.
Jeong Choi had two of the four Korean hits. Dutch shortstop Andrelton Simmons of the Atlanta Braves, went 3-for-5 with two runs out of the leadoff spot. Roger Bernadina collected two RBI. On the mound Sukmin Yoon (L, 0-1) was charged with the loss, surrendering four hits, two runs and a walk in 4 1/3 innings.
Korea will have Sunday off at the 2013 World Baseball Classic and will continue first-round play on Monday against Australia. The Netherlands will face Chinese Taipei on Sunday evening in a clash of undefeated clubs at Intercontinental Stadium.
