Park leads South Korea over US in Premier12 final
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TOKYO - Byung Ho Park bolstered his MLB credentials with a three-run homer in the fifth inning as South Korea routed the United States 8-0 Saturday to win the inaugural Premier12 baseball tournament.
Hyun Soo Kim added to a 2-0 lead with a bases-loaded double to make it 4-0 and Park's towering blast to the left field stands off U.S. reliever Brooks Pounders capped a five-run fifth.
The Minnesota Twins have won the bidding for negotiating rights to Park. The 29-year-old first baseman hit a total of 105 home runs over the past two seasons in the Korea Baseball Organization.
The Twins have until Dec. 8 to sign Park, who had a .343 batting average and 146 RBIs this season for Nexen Heroes.
Team USA consisted of players not on 40-man MLB rosters.