The WBC employed a double-elimination format for pool rounds in 2009, which wasn’t a bad idea except that two teams advanced out of each pool, yet the final game was played for seeding purposes (and maybe for the purpose of keeping the winner’s bracket team sharp as well). Additionally, there was no crossing of teams from pools until the final round. Thus in each round, Japan and Korea finished first and second in the pools, then both advanced to the championship meaning that they played five times against each other and only four times against other countries.
This was the first meeting in Pool A, and Japan’s victory ensured their advancement while Korea would have to defeat China in the loser’s bracket final. Japan invoked the mercy rule, powered by homers from Shuichi Murata and Kenji Johjima. Ichiro had three hits and steal, while Daisuke Matsuzaka started and allowed a two-run homer in the first but nothing further.
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