South Korea fell 5-4 in 10 innings on Saturday at the Tokyo Dome, losing on the WBC tiebreaker format that begins extra innings with a runner on second base.
After opening with an 11-4 win over the Czech Republic on March 5, South Korea lost 8-6 to Japan on March 7 and then dropped Saturday's game to Taiwan to fall to 1-2. South Korea slipped to fourth in Pool C behind Japan and Australia (both 2-0) and Taiwan (2-2). A top-two finish is required to reach the quarterfinals in Miami.
If Australia beats Japan in their game Saturday night, South Korea will be eliminated regardless of its remaining result.
If Australia loses to Japan, South Korea must beat Australia at 7 p.m. Sunday at the same venue. That outcome would leave South Korea, Australia and Taiwan tied at 2-2.
In that scenario, second place would be decided by a tiebreaker comparing runs allowed divided by defensive outs recorded in head-to-head games among the tied teams.
South Korea's pitchers allowed three home runs. Starter Ryu Hyun-jin of the Hanwha Eagles, making his first WBC appearance in 17 years, gave up one run on three hits, including a homer, over three innings. He threw 50 pitches and struck out three.
Kwak Bin of the Doosan Bears followed and allowed a solo homer, giving up one run on two hits over 3 1/3 innings.
Dane Dunning of the Seattle Mariners, pitching for the first time in the tournament, also surrendered a home run and was charged with two runs on two hits in 1 2/3 innings.
South Korea's offense struggled, managing four hits through 10 innings. Kim Do-yeong had two hits and drove in three runs, but it was not enough.
The game turned in the top of the 10th. With the inning starting with a runner on second, Taiwan tried a sacrifice bunt. First baseman Shay Whitcomb of the Houston Astros made an errant throw to third, leaving South Korea in trouble with runners at first and third and no outs. Taiwan then scored on a bunt toward first to take a 5-4 lead.
South Korea could not answer in the bottom of the 10th and lost by one run.