Team Israel slugged three home runs and was helped by strong pitching performances to win the final game of the World Baseball Classic qualifying tournament 9-1 in Brooklyn on Sunday. The win earned Israel’s place in the 16-team Classic in South Korea next March.

Israeli starter and former All-Star Jason Marquis pitched four perfect innings, and relievers combined to hold Great Britain hitless until the eighth inning. Israel’s batters returned the favor in the fifth inning, taking a 4-0 lead after a pair of two-run homers by center fielder Blake Gailen and catcher Ryan Lavarnway. Career minor leaguer Cody Decker added a solo shot in the seventh inning to put the game away.

Israel went undefeated in the qualifying tournament, winning three games by a combined score of 15-3. Israel lost in the final qualification game four years ago, but will now play against South Korea, Chinese Taipei and the Netherlands next year.

“The heightened awareness that this win brings, and just this whole competition, this whole concept of the WBC can only help baseball in Israel,” manager Jerry Weinstein said after the game. “Last time the Israel team competed in 2012, there was a 40% increase in participation and we hope to get just as much. But even more than that, we’re hoping there’s more heightened awareness relative to people who are going to provide resources for the program, which is a very fledgling program. And we need fields and we need more participants and we need more coaches over there.”

After the game, Decker explained the origins of the team mascot, the Mensch on a Bench.

[Photo: MLB ]