South Korea Suffers Heavy 4-13 Defeat to Japan... WBC Direct Path to Quarterfinals Vanishes (Update)

Hope for Self-Powered Quarterfinals Disappears
Czech Republic Wins Big Against China and Must Defeat Australia

Korean baseball faced a heavy defeat against Japan in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), putting the team at risk of being eliminated in the first round for the third consecutive time. It is now difficult for Korea to advance to the quarterfinals on its own.

Led by manager Lee Kang-chul, the Korean national baseball team lost 4-13 to Japan in the 2023 WBC first round Group B match held on the 10th at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan. Following a 7-8 loss to Australia the previous day, this marked their second consecutive defeat, making first-round elimination almost certain. To advance to the quarterfinals, Korea must win both matches against the Czech Republic and China, and the Czech Republic must defeat Australia.

In the bottom of the 5th inning with no outs, Japan's Kondo hit a solo home run, and the next batter, Ohtani, is smiling.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The start of the game was not bad. Starting pitcher Kim Kwang-hyun had a clean start by striking out Kondo Kensuke and Ohtani Shohei consecutively in the bottom of the first inning.

He continued without allowing runs in the second inning. After one out, a ground ball to second base allowed a runner to advance to second due to a throwing error by Tommy Hyun-soo Edman at first base. However, Kim struck out all three outs in the inning.

The Korean offense broke through in the top of the third inning. Leadoff hitter Kang Baek-ho opened the scoring with a double to left-center field. Next, catcher Yang Eui-ji hit a 135 km/h slider thrown by Japan’s starter Darvish for a home run over the left outfield stands of Tokyo Dome. This was his second home run following the game against Australia the day before. After two outs, with Kim Ha-seong on second base, Lee Jung-hoo recorded a base hit to right field, extending the lead to 3-0.

In the bottom of the 3rd inning with bases loaded and one out, Korean pitcher Won Tae-in is disappointed after allowing a 2-RBI go-ahead hit to Japan's Yoshida. [Image source=Yonhap News]

However, Kim Kwang-hyun began to falter in the bottom of the third inning. After issuing two walks to load the bases with no outs, he gave up a single to Nuttba and a double over the center field fence to Kondo, allowing two runs. He was eventually pulled from the game. Relief pitcher Won Tae-in intentionally walked Ohtani to load the bases, then got Japan’s home run king Murakami Munetaka to pop out to shortstop. But the next batter, Yoshida Masataka, hit a two-run single to center field, giving Japan a 4-3 lead.

Japan then took control of the momentum. In the bottom of the fifth inning, leadoff hitter Kondo hit a solo home run to right field off Won Tae-in. Manager Lee Kang-chul brought in Gwak Bin as a relief pitcher, but after allowing a double to Ohtani, followed by a ground ball and sacrifice fly, Japan extended their lead to 6-3.

Trailing, Korea fought back in the top of the sixth inning. After one out, Park Gun-woo hit a solo home run to right field off Imanaga Shota, narrowing the score to 4-6. However, that was as far as they could go. In the bottom of the sixth, relief pitchers gave up five runs after Kim Yoon-sik issued three consecutive walks and allowed four hits, widening the gap to 11-4.

With defeat looming, no upset occurred. Japan added two more runs in the seventh inning, resulting in a heavy 13-4 loss for Korea.