Israel

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Israel Defeats UK, Brazil in World Baseball Classic Qualifier

Team Israel defeated Brazil 1-0 on Friday in the qualifying round of the World Baseball Classic on Friday in Brooklyn.

First baseman Nate Freiman scored in the fourth inning on a Cody Decker sacrifice fly. Winning pitcher Corey Baker allowed one hit in five innings pitched, and Brad Goldberg of the Charlotte Knights, the Chicago White Sox’s AAA affiliate, picked up his second save of the tournament.

Israel also notched a come-from-behind 5-2 win over Great Britain on Thursday, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Israel will play the winner of the Great Britain-Pakistan game on Sunday. The winner of that game will travel to South Korea to play in the 16-team classic next March.

Israeli reliever Josh Zeid allowed a go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning against Brazil, but four of the first five Israeli hitters reached base in the inning’s bottom half. Outfielders Mike Meyers Zach Borenstein knocked in runs, loading the bases for former New York Met Ike Davis, who singled up the middle to knock in another run. Boston Red Sox minor leaguer Cody Decker knocked in the fifth run with a sacrifice fly.

“You have 28 guys who are really proud to be Jewish, raising awareness for Israel baseball and Jewish people,” Zeid, who struck out six in 3 2/3 innings, said after the game. “You guys saw the crowd today. If we win, it will build support for baseball in Israel.”

The Israeli team is made up mostly of Jewish minor leaguers and former major leaguers. There are two Israelis on the team, including Dodger farmhand Dean Kremer, the first Israeli to be drafted by a major league team.

[Photo: MLB ]