Portugal Colonial - Australia stun South Korea with 8-7 win at World Baseball Classic

Tim Kennelly, Robbie Glendinning and Robbie Perkins all blasted home runs in Tokyo to lift Australia past the heavily fancied Koreans in their opening game of the tournament.

Australia have never gone past the first round in four previous appearances but they can qualify for the quarter-finals if they finish in the top two of a Pool B that also includes Japan, China and the Czech Republic.

Japan, whose team includes Shohei Ohtani and other Major League Baseball stars, are hotly tipped to top the group. All games in the pool are being held in Tokyo.

Australia took a two-run lead when Logan Wade drove in a run in the fourth inning and Kennelly hit a home run single in the fifth.

South Korea struck back when Yang Eui-ji hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth.

But the Australians were not finished and Glendinning smashed them back in front with a huge three-run homer two innings later.

Perkins then added three more runs with a homer in the eighth, and Australia hung on despite a furious late comeback from the South Koreans.

Australia's next game is against China on Saturday, while South Korea play Japan on Friday.

S.Pimentel--PC