South Korea defeated Australia 6-0 in the first round of the World Baseball Classic (WBC) on Monday, staying alive in the tournament after the devastating loss to the Netherlands last week. In the Pool B contest at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, South Korea built an early lead and held on for its first win at this year's WBC. Starter Song Seung-jun held the Australians scoreless ov...

South Korea was stunned by the Netherlands 5-0 on Saturday in its first game at the 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC) here in Taiwan. In the first-round action at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium, the Netherlands got timely hits from the heart of their lineup and took advantage of South Korean errors for the upset over the runner-up from the 2009 WBC. Andruw Jones, with 434 career hom...

Team Korea struggles with tepid offense

Koufax gives Korean tips on how to throw a curve ball

DOU LIOU CITY, Taiwan (Yonhap News) ― Cuba and Taiwan, seen as South Korea’s two rivals at the upcoming World Baseball Classic, don’t appear to be as strong as scouts had earlier feared, a former South Korean national team manager said Wednesday. Kim In-sik, who managed South Korea at the first two WBCs in 2006 and 2009, said he has watched Taiwan and Cuba once each in practice games. Kim, curr...

Reds look at Choo in CF to start spring training

GOODYEAR, Arizona (Yonhap News) ― Having joined a new team in Major League Baseball during the offseason, South Korean outfielder Choo Shin-soo said he will not change his style of play regardless of his position on the field or in the batting order. Choo was traded from the Cleveland Indians to the Cincinnati Reds in December. The Reds, the reigning National League Central Division champs, acqu...

Ryu Hyun-jin confident of winning rotation spot in first big-league season

HOUSTON (AP) ― The Houston Astros have a grand total of five players with more than two years of major league experience on the 40-man roster, a first-year manager and a move to the American League to deal with, too. They also have a payroll projected to be the lowest in baseball since the Florida Marlins spent just under $22 million in 2008. So why are they so optimistic they can avoid becomin...