China's manager Dean Treanor (3rd L) shakes hands with Zheng Chaoqun (1st R) during their Pool B match against South Korea at the 2023 World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome in Japan, March 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
China failed to survive the group stage of the World Baseball Classic after losing all four games.
TOKYO, March 13 (Xinhua) -- China suffered a record 22-2 loss to South Korea in their last World Baseball Classic (WBC) group game here on Monday.
The Chinese side coached by American Dean Treanor was eliminated from Pool B after losing all four games. They were beaten 8-1 by Japan, 8-5 by the Czech Republic and 12-2 by Australia in their first three matches.
Zheng Chaoqun of China throws during the Pool B match against South Korea at the 2023 World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome in Japan, March 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
South Korea broke the World Baseball Classic scoring record, set by Japan with their 18-2 defeat of China in the inaugural WBC in 2006.
Two-time champions Japan and Australia reached the quarterfinals by finishing 1-2 in the group. Australia will next play Cuba on Wednesday while Japan takes on Italy on Thursday.
China's manager Dean Treanor (2nd L) shakes hands with South Korea's manager Lee Kang Chul (1st L) before their Pool B match of the 2023 World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome in Japan, March 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Treanor said that baseball will continue to grow in China and the national team will get better despite losing every game.
"The 0-4 record does not tell the story," he said. "I think the thing is just to continue to improve. This team has improved dramatically like I said from day one in China to now and it's just a matter of keeping -- we need to keep improving, and the players realize that." ■
