'Hot Throw' Kim Min-woo "Fast Matches Were Effective"
'Revival' Kang Baek-ho "Tried Too Hard..."
"The momentum from the previous day's comeback victory carried over into today's game." This is the self-assessment of Manager Kim Kyung-moon, who led the national baseball team to the semifinals of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The team struggled in the first round of the knockout stage on the 1st. They hit twelve hits against the Dominican Republic but left eleven runners on base. However, in the 9th inning, Kim Hyun-soo's walk-off hit secured a 4-3 come-from-behind win.
Less than 24 hours later, the team's performance in the second round of the knockout stage changed dramatically. Although they still left many runners on base (11), they racked up eighteen hits and won 11-1 by a 7-inning mercy rule. They took control early by scoring seven runs in the 5th inning. Manager Kim said, "We were happy about the comeback win the day before, but since an important game was ahead, we tried to forget it quickly," adding, "Fortunately, the players prepared well and were able to perform well in the first daytime game."
He also praised Kim Min-woo (Hanwha), who started on the mound. "I feel sorry for not being able to secure the win for him," he said, "I hope he can get a victory in an important upcoming game." Kim Min-woo pitched 4⅓ innings, allowing 2 hits and 1 run. He did his part until he issued a walk to leadoff hitter Mitch Glaser in the 5th inning. He said, "Because the weather was hot, I tried to pitch at a fast pace, which led to good results."
Another key player in the big win against Israel was Kang Baek-ho (kt). He had struggled to regain his hitting form in the previous three games. Manager Kim even moved his batting order from 4th to 2nd. On this day, he went 4-for-4 with 2 RBIs and was on fire. Kang Baek-ho said, "Manager Kim Kyung-moon gave me the chance to bat cleanup on a stage he dreamed of since he was young, but trying too hard made my hitting poor." He added, "Senior players Yang Eui-ji (NC) and Kim Hyun-soo (LG) told me that they would take the pressure so I could believe in myself and play, which helped me shake off the burden." He concluded, "I will prepare for the best game in top condition going forward."
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