[Asian Games] Korea Baseball Gets Revenge Opportunity Against Taiwan... Crushes China for Finals Berth (Summary)

8-1 Big Win Over China... Gold Medal Match Against Taiwan on the 7th
Starting Pitcher Won Tae-in's 6 Innings, 6 Strikeouts, No Runs 'Powerful Pitching'
All Starting Batters Hit... Kim Joo-won & Kang Baek-ho Home Runs

The Korean national baseball team has earned a chance to avenge their shutout defeat by Taiwan in the group stage of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.

On the 6th, the baseball team won 8-1 in their second game against China in the baseball super round held at the Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Sports Center 1 Stadium in Zhejiang Province, China.

Korea secured a spot in the gold medal match by finishing the super round, competing against Japan, Taiwan, and China, with a final record of 2 wins and 1 loss (including the group stage loss to Taiwan). Japan, with a 1-2 record and already having two losses, will head to the bronze medal match ahead of their final game against Taiwan.

The gold medal match between Korea and Taiwan will be held at the same venue at 7 p.m. on the 7th.

Korea's national baseball team player Won Tae-in is pitching vigorously in the second game against China in the baseball super round of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, held on the 6th at the No. 1 field of the Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Sports Center near Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Starting pitcher Won Tae-in once again showed excellent pitching following his performance in the first group stage game against Hong Kong on the 1st. Won Tae-in pitched 6 innings, allowing 3 hits, no walks, striking out 6, and giving up no runs. In the first group stage game against Hong Kong, he also pitched well with 4 innings, 1 hit, 8 strikeouts, and no runs allowed.

The batting lineup exploded with all starters recording hits. Kang Baek-ho, who had been struggling, started as the 6th batter and contributed with 3 hits in 4 at-bats including 1 home run, 1 RBI, and 1 walk. Choi Ji-hoon, batting second, also recorded 3 hits and 1 RBI in 5 at-bats. Kim Joo-won, batting seventh, hit a 2-run home run in the top of the 2nd inning to seize the initiative, finishing with 2 hits, 2 RBIs, and 1 walk in 4 at-bats. No Si-hwan, batting fourth, recorded 2 hits, 1 RBI, and 1 walk in 3 at-bats.

The offense displayed a rare powerful attack from the early innings. In the top of the 2nd inning, leadoff hitter Kang Baek-ho got on base with a hit, and Kim Joo-won hit a big 2-run home run over the right field fence.

Kim Joo-won of the South Korean national baseball team hit a 2-run home run in the bottom of the 2nd inning to take the lead during the second game against China in the baseball super round at the Baseball and Softball Sports Center No. 1 Field in Shaoxing, near Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, on the 6th of the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games.
Photo by Yonhap News

Following that, eighth batter Kim Hyung-jun hit a single in front of the left fielder, continuing a streak of three consecutive hits. Kim Hyung-jun advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt and an infield hit, then scored on an outfield fly by Choi Ji-hoon.

Korea added 1 run in the 3rd inning and 2 runs in the 4th. In the 3rd inning, Kang Baek-ho hit a home run over the right field fence with two outs and no runners on base. In the 4th inning, third batter Yoon Dong-hee hit an RBI double with runners on first and second and one out. The Chinese center fielder dived to catch the ball, but it bounced off his glove, resulting in a double. With one out and runners on second and third, fourth batter No Si-hwan hit a fly ball to center field, bringing the runner from third home.

Korea missed scoring opportunities with no outs and runners on second and third in the 5th inning and with one out and runners on first and second in the 6th inning, but added 2 more runs in the 8th inning. With two outs and runners on first and second, created by Choi Ji-hoon's infield hit and an error by the opponent, fifth batter Moon Bo-kyung hit a two-RBI double to left-center field.

Following Won Tae-in, pitchers Jung Woo-young, Jang Hyun-seok, and Go Woo-seok each pitched one inning from the 7th to the 9th. Jung Woo-young held the 7th inning scoreless with one hit allowed, Jang Hyun-seok gave up one run in the 8th inning but the game was already decided. Go Woo-seok finished the 9th inning with a strikeout and a perfect inning.