World Baseball Classic 2013: Day 4 Results, Recap and Analysis

Things have finally fallen into place in Pools A and B in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. There haven't been any big surprises thus far, but that was to be expected at this point in the tournament.  

When teams play in a round-robin format, especially with weaker competition in the field right now, it is harder to have many upsets. We are left to marvel at some of the individual performances and figure out if teams will carry momentum into the second round. 

The only game left before Pools C and D get under way Thursday is between Cuba and Japan on Wednesday in Pool A. The winner of that game will win that pool and play against the Pool B runner-up on Friday, while the loser will take on the winner of Pool B.

But before we look too far ahead, let's take a quick look back at all of the action from Monday night and Tuesday morning.

Pool B: Netherlands (2-1) def. Australia (0-3), 4-1

The Netherlands locked up a berth in the second round of the World Baseball Classic with a 4-1 victory over Australia. 

Baltimore Orioles prospect Jonathan Schoop hit a two-run home run in the second inning off Australian starter Dushan Ruzic. The Netherlands would score all four of its runs in the first two innings and let the pitching do the rest. 

Netherlands starter Robbie Cordemans went five innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three. The bullpen gave up six hits and one run over the final four innings. 

As a result of this victory, the Netherlands will play the winner of Wednesday's clash between Cuba and Japan in the second round.

Pool A: China (1-2) def. Brazil (0-3), 5-2

There was nothing on the line in this game but pride, with China managing to salvage its appearance in the World Baseball Classic with a victory over Brazil.

Cuba and Japan have already secured the top two spots in Pool A. China had a rough go of things up to this point, showing no offensive punch until the ninth inning of its first game against Japan and then getting mercy-ruled by Cuba, 12-0, on Monday.

Brazil didn't fare much better in its first two games. It did hold a 3-2 lead in the eighth inning against Japan, but a late rally by the Japanese team left the Brazilians scratching their heads and searching for answers.

There were no answers to be found against Cuba, as Brazil fell behind 5-0 after the sixth inning and wound up losing 5-2.

Brazil held a 2-0 lead in the eighth inning against China, but a five-run outburst in the bottom half of the inning gave the Chinese the cushion they would need to hold on for their first victory of the World Baseball Classic. 

Pool B: Korea (2-1) def. Chinese Taipei (2-1), 3-2

Korea's late comeback against Chinese Taipei was too little, too late. Even though the Korean team did get the victory, because of tiebreakers and run differential, they had to win this game by at least six runs to advance to the second round. 

Third baseman Jungho Kang finished the comeback for the Korean team in the bottom of the eighth inning by hitting a two-run homer to put them up 3-2. Unfortunately that would be all the scoring they would get and their run in the WBC is over. 

Chinese Taipei and the Netherlands will represent Pool B in the second round of the tournament. Chinese Taipei's modified run differential was greater than the Netherlands, therefore it won Pool B and will play the loser of Japan-Cuba on Thursday. 

Netherlands will take on the winner of the Japan-Cuba game on Friday. 

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