The South Korean national baseball team said it will pull no stops in its opening game of the second round of the World Baseball Classic. The second round opener of Pool 1 matches up Pool A winner South Korea against Pool B winner Mexico at the Anaheim Angels Stadium on Sunday night.

Kim said, "This first game is now more important than any other game, and we cannot fail to win the game if we want to lead the standings in the remaining games. I will use all our cards to beat Mexico."

Kim is considering calling up Kim Byung-hyun of the Colorado Rockies or Chung Dae-hyun of the Korean league, who both use a sidearm pitching style, to oppose Mexico's batters. Many Korean newspapers have predicted right-hander Rodrigo Lopez of Baltimore Orioles will be Mexico's starting pitcher in the game. Lopez allowed just one run during four innings in a 2-0 loss to the U.S. team.

Meanwhile, South Korea continues to face problems caused by injuries. Slugger Kim Dong-ju has had to sit out several games due to a shoulder injury, and has been replaced with Hong Sung-heon, who is also injured.

The top two teams of Pool 1 will advance to the semifinals against the winners of Pool 2, which includes Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.