LOS ANGELES — Venezuela has a roster full of big leaguers, South Korea just one.

Nevertheless, the reigning Olympic champions reached the finals of the second World Baseball Classic with ease last night.

Cleveland Indians outfielder Choo Shin-Soo hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run first, Yoon Suk-Min allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings, and South Korea beat mistake-prone Venezuela, 10-2, at Dodger Stadium before an enthusiastic crowd of 43,378 that included Commissioner Bud Selig.

"As a major leaguer myself, I can say the Korean players and the Japanese players are excellent," Choo, speaking through an interpreter, said after the game. "There is not that much difference. The teamwork was the best. That was critical. My teammates helped me very much."

Kim Tae-Kyun added a two-run homer off loser Carlos Silva in the second for South Korea, which meets the winner of tonight's semifinal matchup between defending WBC champion Japan and the United States for the title tomorrow night. Roy Oswalt is scheduled to pitch for the Americans against Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Oswalt, a member of the Olympic gold medal-winning team in the 2000 Olympics, is 1-0 in two WBC starts, allowing 11 hits and three runs in 7 2/3 innings.

Matsuzaka, who pitched six shutout innings against Cuba last Sunday, is 2-0, having allowed nine hits and two runs in 10 innings. He was 3-0 and selected tournament MVP in leading Japan to the inaugural WBC championship in 2006. The 28-year-old right-hander joined the Boston Red Sox two years ago.

OUTSIDE THE LINES

CONTRIBUTIONS OPPOSED

The baseball players association filed a grievance against the major league clubs after the Los Angeles Dodgers said charitable donations will be required in future player contracts.

Manny Ramirez agreed to make a $1 million donation to the Dodgers Dream Foundation when he accepted a $45 million, two-year deal from Los Angeles on March 4.

"Every future Dodger will be asked to fill in a blank line," Los Angeles owner Frank McCourt said Thursday. "They're making a lot of money, these players. We won't tell them how much to contribute, that wouldn't be right."

Not so fast, said the Major League Baseball Players Association. The grievance was filed Friday and, unless settled, will be decided by arbitrator Shyam Das.

"Players are free to choose to make donations to club charities, but clubs can't require such donations by contract," union general counsel Michael Weiner said yesterday. "Provisions that require players to make contributions to clubs' charities are unenforceable under the basic agreement. It's not a subject that the Basic Agreement permits individual bargaining on."

CUBS

KOSKIE ENDS COMEBACK

Corey Koskie called off his comeback attempt yesterday, two days after taking himself out of a game because he felt lightheaded.

The 35-year-old third baseman, out of baseball since a 2006 concussion, spent the first seven of his nine big league seasons with the Minnesota Twins. He came to spring training with the Chicago Cubs as a non-roster invitee this year.

Koskie took himself out of Thursday's spring training game against Seattle in the third inning when he began feeling ill after diving for a grounder.

"After that play, I just thought, 'What am I doing out here?' " he said yesterday. "Whether I got the wind knocked out of me a little bit, I did feel a little funky after it."

RED SOX

YOUKILIS IN, DREW OUT

Kevin Youkilis could rejoin the Red Sox lineup tomorrow after giving his sprained left ankle more time to heal. J.D. Drew could need more time to get back on the field after bruising a hand when getting hit by a pitch.

Youkilis returned to the Red Sox on Wednesday from the World Baseball Classic with a mild sprain and mild Achilles tendinitis in his left foot. The first baseman had been wearing a hard plastic boot, then was examined yesterday by team physician Dr. Peter Asnis and took batting practice while wearing running shoes.

"He can maybe get a couple of at-bats on Monday," said manager Terry Francona.

Drew did not participate in an on-field workout yesterday, a day after he was hit on the right hand by a Donnie Veal pitch. X-rays Friday were negative.

WHITE SOX

GETZ TO START AT SECOND

Chris Getz spent several minutes signing autographs following yesterday's game against the Chicago Cubs in Phoenix. Then White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen called in the apprehensive second baseman for a chat.

"Maybe I wasn't supposed to do that after a 13-2 loss," Getz said. "Obviously there was some better news. They told me I was going to be the second baseman and to get ready."

Getz went 2 for 4, raising his average to .350. He beat out Jayson Nix, Brent Lillibridge and Gordon Beckham — the No. 8 overall pick in last June's amateur draft.

"He's worked hard enough," Guillen said of Getz.

SHORT HOPS

Astros: Houston third baseman Aaron Boone will have open heart surgery Thursday at the Stanford University Medical Center. Dr. D. Craig Miller will perform the procedure to correct a problem with Boone's aorta and aortic valve. Recovery is expected to take several months.

Phillies: Philadelphia left-hander Cole Hamels threw 41 pitches in a bullpen session yesterday and the front office decided that the World Series MVP was ready to resume his preparation for the season. The 25-year-old will throw about 50 pitches in a minor league game Tuesday in Clearwater.

Rays: Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton was hit by a pitch on the left hand during a minor league game yesterday, however the Rays don't believe it's a serious injury. X-rays were negative. The center fielder has a bone bruise and his status is day to day.

Yankees: Right-hander Phil Hughes was optioned to the minors by New York yesterday. Hughes, and pitchers Steven Jackson and Anthony Claggett were optioned to Triple-A Scranton-Wikes/Barre.