[Asian Games] Korean Baseball Struggles Again Against Taiwan... Can the 2018 Miracle Be Repeated? (Comprehensive)

Ryu Joong-il Team Suffers 0-4 Defeat to Taiwan in Group Stage Second Match
Must Aim for Super Round with One Loss Like in Jakarta

The Korean national team, aiming for a fourth consecutive Asian Games baseball gold, finds itself in a situation where it must once again hope for a stroke of luck, just like during the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games.

On the 2nd, the baseball game between Taiwan and South Korea in Group B of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, held at the No. 1 field of the Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Sports Center near Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, ended with South Korea's defeat at 0-4. After the game ended, South Korean players waited to leave the stadium with stern expressions.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Led by manager Ryu Jung-il, the Korean baseball team suffered a 0-4 defeat against Taiwan in their second Group B match of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, held on the 2nd at the Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Sports Center No. 1 Field near Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The nightmare of the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, where the journey to the gold medal was tough after a 1-2 loss to Taiwan in the group stage, was replayed.

As in 2018, Korea now faces a situation in the Super Round carrying one loss, where they must defeat the top two teams from Group A and then wait for the results of other matches.

Baseball national team manager Ryu Joong-il is seen looking frustrated as no runs were scored during the Group B match against Taiwan at the No. 1 field of the Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Sports Center near Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, on the 2nd of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Photo by Yonhap News

During the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, Korea lost to Taiwan in the group stage and advanced to the Super Round as the second place in the group behind Taiwan. The Super Round, contested by four teams, was conducted by carrying over the results of matches between teams from the same group in the group stage. In other words, Taiwan entered the Super Round with one win, and Korea with one loss, based on their group stage head-to-head result. Korea then defeated Japan and China, who advanced from the other group, in the Super Round, and with Japan beating Taiwan, Korea was able to reach the gold medal match dramatically.

The baseball competition format at this Hangzhou Asian Games is the same as in the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. Moreover, in Group A, Japan and China have already secured their spots in the Super Round with two wins each. Ryu Jung-il’s team now faces the exact same situation as in 2018, where they must win against Japan and China in the Super Round and then wait for the final results between Taiwan and Japan.

The Korean batting lineup struggled against the opposing starter Lin Yu-min. The 20-year-old left-handed pitcher Lin Yu-min currently belongs to a minor league team under the Arizona Diamondbacks in Major League Baseball. Although Lin’s fastball velocity stayed in the low 140 km/h range, Korean hitters had difficulty timing his pitches. Lin allowed only one walk and four hits with no runs over six innings, shutting down the Korean offense. He also recorded six strikeouts with relatively slower pitches.

Korea managed six hits but they were scattered. Except for the 1st, 6th, and 7th innings, they got hits in every inning but failed to produce timely hitting. Sixth batter Yoon Dong-hee recorded three hits, second batter Choi Ji-hoon had two hits, and third batter Noh Si-hwan had one hit.

Taiwan took the initiative in the bottom of the 1st inning. Leadoff hitter Cheng Chung-cherng hit a double to left-center field to create a scoring opportunity, and cleanup hitter Lin An-kuo hit a triple with two outs to bring home Cheng Chung-cherng from third base.

Korea immediately had a chance to tie in the top of the 2nd inning. After one out, sixth batter Yoon Dong-hee reached second base with a double, and seventh batter Park Sung-han earned a hit-by-pitch, creating a 1-out, 1st and 2nd base situation. However, eighth batter Kim Hyung-joon and ninth batter Kim Sung-yoon both grounded out, failing to score.

In the top of the 3rd inning, with one out and a runner on first, third batter Noh Si-hwan and fourth batter Kang Baek-ho struck out consecutively. Singles were recorded in the 4th and 5th innings but did not lead to runs.

On the 2nd, at the No. 1 field of the Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Sports Center near Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, during the Group B match of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games between Taiwan and South Korea, Taiwan's starting pitcher Lin Youmin is pitching vigorously. He recorded 6 innings, 4 hits, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, and no runs, becoming the winning pitcher.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Taiwan added another run in the bottom of the 4th inning to extend the lead to 2-0. Korean starter Moon Dong-joo retired the side in order in the 2nd and 3rd innings, but in the 4th inning, with two outs and runners on first and third after an infield hit and a walk, he gave up a run on a wild pitch.

The Korean offense was powerless, going down in order in both the 6th and 7th innings. In the top of the 8th inning, after two outs, Noh Si-hwan hit a double over the center fielder’s reach, but Kang Baek-ho grounded out to shortstop, ending the threat.

On the 2nd, the Group B match between Taiwan and South Korea at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, held at the No. 1 field of the Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Sports Center near Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, ended with South Korea's defeat at 0-4. After the match ended, South Korean players are leaving the field.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Taiwan sealed the game in the bottom of the 8th inning. With two outs and runners on second and third, they capitalized on a double and a hit-by-pitch, and ninth batter Lin Tzu-hao delivered a two-run RBI single.

Korea had another chance in the top of the 9th inning with two outs and a runner on second, but pinch hitter Kim Joo-won struck out, ending the game without scoring.

Korean starter Moon Dong-joo took the loss, pitching 4 innings, allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, and 2 runs.