South Koreans wide awake for Mexico

So much for the jet lag. After Japan shutout Cuba, 6-0, South Korea turns around and thumps Mexico, 8-2 in San Diego. Now the Asian Pool A winners, who played each other just six days ago in Tokyo, square off to determine the first qualifier out of Pool 1 for the final round of the World Baseball Classic.

Three solo home runs paced South Korea, which defeated Japan 1-0 and lost to Japan 14-2 in the first round.

Cuba wins Pool B

Cuba's 16-4 Pool B throttling of Mexico gives them the pool title and a consolation prize moving forward: they're forced to play Japan in the second round's Pool 1. That's a rematch of the 2006 World Baseball Classic final, a game Japan won. Mexico faces South Korea, the Pool A Champions, who lost their two game matchup with Japan with a 14-3 aggregate score. They won the pool title, however, 1-0.