Seo's run something to build on

Classic experience has right-hander in top form

By Jim Street / MLB.com

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SAN DIEGO -- The final pitch right-hander Jae Weong Seo threw for his country Saturday night in the World Baseball Classic was hit to second baseman Min Jae Kim, who assisted on the final out in the fifth inning, keeping Korea's scoreless semifinal game against Japan deadlocked.

It was too bad for Team Korea that Seo could not get closer to the 95-pitch limit. He called it a night -- and a tournament -- after 56 pitches, and two innings later, Korea's hopes of extending its winning streak to seven straight in the inaugural event came crashing to earth during a five-run rally by Team Japan that did most of the damage in a 6-0 triumph at PETCO Park.

Seo, one of six Major League pitchers on the Korea staff, held Japan to three hits, walked one and struck out one in a terrific duel against Japan right-hander Koji Uehara. Only 18 of his pitches were outside the strike zone and he stranded runners in scoring position in the first, third and fourth innings as opposing hitters went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

"It was too bad he couldn't go longer than five innings," fellow right-hander Chan Ho Park said. "But he did a good job, but the manager wanted to use more pitchers."

Seo is expected to rejoin his Dodgers teammates in Vero Beach, Fla., in the next couple of days and the experience in the World Baseball Classic could be the springboard to a breakthrough season. He has a 22-24 record and 3.85 ERA in 71 Major League appearances.

But he was nothing less than sensational in his three Classic starts, surrendering one earned run in 14 innings.

Seo defeated Chinese Taipei in a tough 2-0 game to begin the tournament in Tokyo and held Mexico to two hits and one run over 5 1/3 innings in Round 2.

Jim Street is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.