SEOUL, South Korea — Scott Burcham’s run-scoring infield single in the 10th inning lifted Israel to a 2-1 upset victory over South Korea on Monday in the World Baseball Classic opener.
With a victory over Taiwan on Tuesday night, Israel would be in good position to advance to the second round.
Tyler Krieger’s bases-loaded walk against Won-Jun Chang forced home Nate Freiman with a second-inning run and gave Israel a 1-0 lead, but South Korea tied the score in the fifth on Seo Geong-chan’s RBI single off Jeremy Bleich.
Ike Davis began the go-ahead rally with a one-out walk in the 10th off Chang-Yong Lim and took third on Ryan Lavarnway’s single. Tyler Krieger popped out on a bunt and Burcham, a 23-year-old in the Colorado Rockies’ organization, hit a three-hopper up the middle that Geon-Chang Seo gloved with a sliding stop. The second baseman had no play as pinch runner Mike Meyers scored on the infield hit.
Winning pitcher Josh Zeid struck out two in a perfect 10th. Starter Jason Marquis allowed two hits in three scoreless innings.
First-round games also are being played in Miami, Tokyo and Guadalajara, Mexico. Second-round games will be in San Diego and Tokyo. The championship round is at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles from March 20-22.
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