WBC Round 1 | including M's contributions

POOL A

• Japan defeated China (4-0)
• Korea defeated Chinese Taipei (9-0)
• China elimnated Chinese Taipei (4-1)
• Japan defeated Korea (14-2)
• Korea eliminated China (14-0)
• Korea defeated Japan (1-0) to earn the #1 seed in Round 2 in SanDiego
  

Ichiro (JPN) 4/11 - 1BB - 1 SB
Kenji (JPN) 5/10 - 1 HR - 2 RBI - 1 BB

Ichiro Suzuki has collected four hits in his last two games
for Team Japan. (Shizuo Kambayashi/AP)


Of the players on Team Korea, Cha Seung Baek said, "I
played with some of them when I was younger, back when
I was in high school." (Ed Andrieski/AP)

POOL B

• Cuba defeated South Africa (8-1)
• Australia defeated Mexico (17 - 7)
• Mexico eliminated South Africa (14-3)
• Cuba plays Australia on Tuesday
• Mexico eliminated Australia (16-1)
• Cuba defeated Mexico (16-4 in 7) to earn the #1 seed in Round 2 in SanDiego
  

Anthony Phillips (RSA) 2/9 - 1RBI

Adrian (left) and Edgar Gonzalez grew up in San Diegoand
played for the Padres. (K.C. Alfred/AP)


Cuba's Luis Miguel Nava and Yoennis Cespedes celebrate
after scoring in the fourth. (AP)

POOL C

• USA defeated Canada (6-5)
• Venezuela defeated Italy (7-0)
• USA defeated Venezuela 15-6)
• Italy eliminated Canada (6-2)
• Venezuela eliminated Italy (10-1)
  
• Venezuela defeated USA (5-3) to earn the #1 seed in Round 2 in Miami
  

Phillippe Aumont (CAN) 1IP - 1 H - 1BB - 2K - 0ER
Felix (VEN) 4IP - 1H - 2BB - 4K - 0ER
Carlos Silva (VEN)4IP - 6H - 1BB - 2K - 0ER
Jose Lopez (VEN) 7/10 - 1HR - 2RBI - 5D - 6RS -2BB
Endy Chavez (VEN) 6/10 2RBI - 2D - 1T - 2RS
Alex Liddi (ITL) 3/8 - 2RBI - 1RS


The Venezuelan team runs out of the dugout after beating
Team USA in the Pool C finale. (Frank Gunn/AP)


Between them, Chipper Jones and Derek Jeter have 15
All-Star berths and five World Series titles. (Getty)


POOL D

• Netherlands upset DR (3-2)
• Puerto Rico defeated Panama (7-0)
• DR eliminated Panama (9-0)
• Puerto Rico defeated Netherlands (3-1)
• Netherlands eliminated DR in 11! (2-1)
• Puerto Rico defeated Netherlands (5-0) to earn the #1 seed in Round 2 in Miami
  

Greg Halman (NED) 1/7 - 1RS (the lone run in the loss to Puerto Rico!)


Netherlands players' Dirk Van 't Klooster (18), pitcher Michiel Van Kampen
and Berry Van Driel celebrate their victory over the Dominican Republic
after a World Baseball Classic game in San Juan.
Netherlands won 2-1 in extra innings. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)


Carlos Beltran (left) and Pool D Most Valuable Player Ivan
Rodriguez celebrate after Puerto Rico's win over The Netherlands
on Wednesday. (Al Bello/Getty)

exM's of note...

Matt Thornton (USA) 2IP - 1K - 0ER
JJ Putz (USA) 1IP - 2H - 1ER - SAVE
Carlos Guillen (VEN) 3/11 2HR - 3RBI - 4RS - 1BB
Chris Snelling (AUS) 3/7 - 2HR - 3RBI - 3RS - 1BB