ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Lee Seung Yeop didn't leave his power stroke at Tokyo Dome.

News photoLee Seung Yeop belts a two-run homer in the first inning of Korea's World Baseball Classic game against Mexico in Anaheim, Calif.

Lee homered in his third straight World Baseball Classic game, smashing a two-run shot in the first inning of Korea's tight 2-1 win over Team Mexico on Sunday at Angel Stadium.

Lee had to work for his homer, but once he settled into the at-bat, he got his pitch, bringing a response from the crowd of 42,979 even colder than the unseasonably chilly California weather.

"I was not familiar with the pitcher, so I think I was trying to bat too strong, and I think that was the problem," Lee said. "When I did that, I had some foul balls."

Korea stayed undefeated in the WBC with the win and is one of two unbeatens remaining in the tournament along with Puerto Rico.

Lee's bomb, against Baltimore Orioles pitcher Rodrigo Lopez, was the difference in the game, but as Korea's offense failed to produce time and time again through the rest of the night, Team Korea's pitching staff stepped up and kept the Mexicans from doing anything to take over the game.

Seo Jae Weong went 5 1/3 innings, giving up only two hits, one of which was a big one. Mexico cut Korea's lead down to one run when Luis Alonso Garcia hit a solo homer.

Seo's four successors were even better at keeping runs off the board, and the Korean pitchers combined for nine strikeouts.

Mexico had scored 19 runs in its previous two WBC games, so silencing their sluggers was no small feat.

"I think we have to give the credit to their good pitching," Mexico manager Paquin Estrada said. "I think our team has a very good offense, but that's the way it is."

Lee was the only batter with multiple hits in a game where pitching and defense ruled the roost.

Korea continues to win with a spot-on combination of spandex-tight pitching and just enough offense to do the job, but Team Korea manager Kim In Sik knows something will have to give eventually if his team doesn't find a way not only to get more men on base but to bring them around.

"I know we could have done better on offense," Kim said. "It could have been a bit better."

Korea and the United States play Monday.