TOKYO – Game 37 and Game 38 at the Tokyo Dome will close the first-ever WBSC Premier12 global tournament. Looking ahead to today’s finals, here’s a look at the past encourters between the National Teams of USA and South Korea, and Japan and Mexico.
Premier12 Global Championship
World No. 2 United States vs No. 8 South Korea
In the Opening Round, the United States recorded a 3-2 extra-inning victory over South Korea. It was in their final group stage match. An RBI single in the 10th inning by Brett Eibner was the decider.
The United States, current No. 2 in the world rankings, are the reigning world champions across the U-12 and U-18 categories, winning the U-12 and U-18 Baseball World Cups this year.
The National Teams of South Korea and United States met at the 2015 U-18 Baseball World Cup. The U.S. scored 4 runs in the 9th inning to defeat South Korea, 7-4. South Korea eventually earned the bronze medal.
The U.S. U-12 National Team defeated South Korea in the 2013 U-12 Baseball World Cup, 18-1.
The last time South Korea defeated the U.S. at the Men’s level was at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games (8-7).
Bronze Medal Game
World No. 1 Japan vs No. 12 Mexico
Japan beat Mexico 6-5 in the Opening Round of the WBSC Premier12. Sho Nakata hit the game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning. Nakata had 5 RBIs in the game.
Japan, the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic winners, and Mexico also clashed this year at the U-18 Baseball World Cup in Osaka — Japan won 12-0.
In nine meetings, including games from the WBSC Premier12 (1), Baseball World Cups (7) and the World Baseball Classic (1), Japan has won on all nine occasions.
