Americans beaten
Team USA made what appeared to be the smart move, walking South Korea’s top hitter intentionally.
The strategy backfired.
Hee-Seop Choi’s three-run homer off Dan Wheeler in the fourth inning was the key blow Monday night as South Korea beat the United States 7-3 to become the only unbeaten team in the inaugural World Baseball Classic.
The game was played before an announced crowd of 21,288 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif.
South Korea (2-0) will play its final game of Round 2 against Japan on Wednesday night. Japan (0-1) will face Mexico (0-1) today, and Team USA (1-1) will play Mexico on Thursday in other Round 2 action. The top two teams will meet Saturday in the semifinals at Petco Park in San Diego.
Dominican Republic 7, Cuba 3: At San Juan, Puerto Rico, David Ortiz hit his third homer of the tournament and walked with the bases loaded as the Dominican beat Cuba to keep alive its hopes of advancing to the semifinals.
Starter Odalis Perez (2-0) struck out three in 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk.
Venezuela 6, Puerto Rico 0: At San Juan, Victor Martinez hit a grand slam, Carlos Zambrano combined with six pitchers on a seven-hitter and Venezuela handed Puerto Rico its first loss.
Endy Chavez hit a two-run homer off Joel Pineiro in the fifth and Martinez extended Venezuela’s lead to 6-0 with a grand slam in the eighth.
Angels top Mariners
The Los Angeles Angels met with Ervin Santana before spring training and told their young starter they didn’t want him to pitch for his native Dominican in the World Baseball Classic.
Santana mostly dominated the Seattle Mariners, allowing one run and four singles while striking out five in a 6-3 Angels’ win in Peoria, Ariz.
Santana, expected to be part of the back end of the Angels rotation, has given up one run and five hits in nine innings during the exhibition season. He struck out 10 and walked three.
“Right now, it’s working,” Santana said of his slider. “Last year, it worked sometimes.”
He ended his rookie season 12-8 with a 4.65 ERA in 25 starts after his June 14 recall from Triple-A Salt Lake. Last spring training, he was destined for Double-A Arkansas.
Seattle starter Gil Meche, pitching for the first time since he strained his left oblique muscle Feb. 28, pitched two innings and allowed only a double to Vladimir Guerrero. He struck out three and walked none.
•Jamie Moyer wanted to pitch in more trouble instead of simply sailing through spring training.
The Mariners’ likely opening day starter got what he wanted.
Moyer allowed seven hits and five runs in his four-inning start in a morning “B” game against Texas, which had regulars Brad Wilkerson, Kevin Mench, Hank Blalock, Phil Nevin and Rod Barajas in its lineup.
Moyer is on track to face the Rangers during the third week of the regular season in Arlington, Texas – assuming he starts the April 3 season opener.
Moyer, who threw 67 pitches, angrily yelled at himself on the mound during the third inning for being wild. Afterward, when asked if he was satisfied at getting challenged after having allowed one run in his first two spring starts combined, Moyer looked up with a blank expression.
“No,” he said flatly.
The Mariners had no regular starters in their lineup against new Rangers starter Kevin Millwood during the 6-4 defeat.