South Korea’s baseball team sees both challenges and achievements in its loss to Japan.
The South Korean national baseball team, led by head coach Ryu Jung-il, lost 1-2 to Japan in the second game of the Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) 2023 qualifier at the Tokyo Dome in Japan on Sunday. Korea’s record at the tournament is 1-1. Japan, on the other hand, has won two straight games and will advance to the finals regardless of the outcome of the game on Aug. 18.
Korea’s lineup was Kim Hye-sung (2B), Kim Do-young (3B), Yoon Dong-hee (R), Noh Si-hwan (1B), Moon Hyun-bin (designated hitter), Kim Hyung-joon (catcher), Kim Joo-won (shortstop), Park Seung-gyu (right fielder), and Choi Ji-hoon (center fielder). Kim Do-young was moved up to the second spot, Choi Ji-hoon was moved to the ninth spot, and Park Seung-kyu was given a chance to start. There were some big and small changes.굿모닝토토 주소
Contrary to expectations, the Korean bats struggled to hit Japan’s Chihiro Sumida throughout the game.
From the top of the first inning until three innings later, the batting order didn’t get a single hit or walk. Meanwhile, Japan took the lead in the bottom of the third inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Chusei Mannami added another run on a solo shot to put more pressure on South Korea.
After Sumida was relieved after seven innings, the silent bats entered the top of the ninth without a run, and two batters failed to reach base, putting the game in jeopardy. However, pinch-hitter Kim Hwi-jip hit a solo home run to give his team its first run, and the Tokyo Dome went silent for a moment. If South Korea reaches the final, they will meet Japan one more time, giving the players a boost of confidence.
After the game, coach Ryu Jung-il said, “Our starting pitcher Lee Yi-ri had some trouble early on, but he handled it well. He gave up three hits, but I think he pitched well. The two pitchers Oh Won-seok and Choi Jun-yong also pitched better than expected.” “The bats had chances early on, but it was unfortunate that they couldn’t string them together. I think we finished the game well thanks to Kim Hwijip’s solo shot in the top of the ninth.”
“The other pitcher (Chihiro Sumida) threw the ball too easily. He threw strikes, pitches, and then he threw a forkball as a deciding pitch. “He had five or six pitches, and he had the ability to get strikes with all of them. He’s not an easy pitcher to catch. Like I said, it was better than the video. My pitches were working well.”
Won Tae-in will take the mound for the final game of the preliminary round against Chinese Taipei on the 18th. Taiwan’s starting pitcher is left-hander Wang Yancheng, who plays for Rakuten in the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) second division. Coach Ryu Jung-il said, “We’ve played one game now. If we beat Taiwan and meet Japan again in the final, we’ll analyze them even harder. They are a good team with good pitchers and batters. We will have a good game the next time we meet them.” “There are many pitchers we haven’t seen before, so it’s hard to catch them easily. We will try to play aggressively against Taiwan.”
The following is a one-on-one interview with Ryu Jung-il.
Please give us an overview of the game.
-First of all, our starting pitcher Lee Yi-ri had a crisis in the early innings, but he handled it well. He gave up three strikes, but I think he pitched well. The batters had chances early on, but it was unfortunate that they couldn’t string them together. I think we finished the game well thanks to Kim Hwijip’s solo shot in the top of the ninth.
You finished the game with three pitchers.
-Starting pitcher Lee Yi-ri pitched well until the sixth inning. Oh Won-seok and Choi Jun-yong pitched better than expected. The other pitcher (Chihiro Sumida) threw the ball too easily. He threw strikes, threw balls, and then threw forks for strikes. It was great.
Strategies and countermeasures against Sumida.
-I think he has better pitches than I saw in the video. He throws the ball easily and throws his changeup well outside the count. If we meet again, I’ll be able to take advantage of it.
On his preparation for the game against Taiwan on the 18th.
-The starting pitcher is Won Tae-in. After winning against Taiwan, we want to face Japan again in the final.
What do you think is the reason why the batters struggled against Sumida?
-Sumida has five or six pitches, and he has the ability to throw strikes with all of them. He’s not an easy pitcher to hit. Like I said, he looked better than the video. His pitches were well executed.
Impressions of the Japanese national team.
-We’ve played one game now. We’ll analyze them harder when we play Taiwan and meet Japan again in the final. They have good pitchers and good hitters. We will play a good game next time we meet them.
The batting lineup hasn’t been clicking.
-We have to analyze our starters, bullpen, and hitters before tomorrow’s game. There are a lot of pitchers we haven’t seen before, so it’s not easy. We will try to be aggressive against Taiwan.
Kim Hwi-jip’s home run will change the atmosphere.
-If we had lost the first game, the team would have been down. I think Kim Hwijip’s home run will keep the momentum going.
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