The South Korean U-23 baseball team suffered a two-point defeat in the second game of the Super Round as it failed to keep a one-point lead.토토사이트
The U-23 national team, led by head coach Choi Tae-won, lost 1-3 to Puerto Rico, ranked first in Group A, in the second game of the 5th World Baseball Championship (under 23) Super Round at Xiaoxing Baseball Softball Center in China on the 13th.
Korea has deployed right-hander sidearm Park Ki-ho as its starting pitcher against Puerto Rico, which advanced to the Super Round with the record of ranking first in Group A. Park had no run through the fourth inning to block Puerto Rico’s batters, but gave up a three-run homer through the bottom of the fifth inning to lower his head. The final result was three hits, two walks and five strikeouts in four innings.
The team’s poor batting performance, which had been dragged to the mound throughout the game, was also painful. Except for Jeong An-seok, who had one hit from three times at bat on the day, no batter had a chance to garner a hit, forcing him to accept the two-run loss.
On this day, South Korea formed the lineup in the order of Kim Hyun-jong (center fielder), Choi Sung-min (right wing), Jung Dae-seon (designated hitter), Kim Si-ang (catcher), Jung Ahn-seok (left wing), Kim Dong-hyun (first baseman), Kim Doo-hyun (striker), Song Ho-jeong (third baseman), and Hong Dae-in (second baseman).
Korea had to score first. At 0-0 with Puerto Rico, Korea had one out and runners on first and second bases with one out in the top of the fifth inning with Kim Doo-hyun’s hit ball and Song Ho-jeong’s walk. With the opponent team’s wild pitch, runners advanced one base each, and connected with runners on the second and third bases with one out. Korea, which desperately needed one run, shook the opponent’s infielders with a squeeze bunt from Hongikers. At that time, Lim Sang-woo, a pinch runner, quickly came home from the third base to give the team the first run.
The problem was the bottom of the fifth inning. The starting pitcher Park Ki-ho, who had struck out five and allowed no runs until the bottom of the fourth inning, suddenly shook his head. He had a double play by the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the fifth inning, allowed a walk to the follow-up hitter, and dedicated a three-run shot to the left-hand side to No. 8 Jankel Almando at a risk of no outs and runners on the first and second bases. It was a moment of stark contrast between the joys and sorrows of the two teams.
Hong Won-pyo, the second player after starting pitcher Park Ki-ho, showed his willingness to chase after him with two scoreless innings, but there was no reversal. South Korea fell to its knees 1-3 as it failed to target the Puerto Rico mound in the top of the seventh inning following the top of the sixth inning.
Korea, which has one win and three losses in the Super Round, will play its last Super Round match against Japan (3 wins and two losses) at 8 p.m. on Tuesday (Korea time). The match between Korea and Japan will be broadcast live through SportyB Prime, a sports channel.