Korea stays alive with win over Czech Republic
TOKYO — Korea’s World Baseball Classic desires had been virtually dashed. Through two video games, its pitchers had given up eight runs in a loss to Australia, and one other 13 runs within the defeat in opposition to Japan – utilizing an astonishing 10 pitchers alongside the best way.
Facing the stunning and highly effective Czech Republic offense right here on Sunday, the Koreans wanted outs. They turned to Lotte Giants’ right-hander Se-Woong Park and a really particular recreation plan: throw breaking balls.
It labored in Korea’s must-win 7-3 victory. It stored the nation’s slim WBC hopes alive to advance to the knockout stage – so long as Australia doesn’t win yet another recreation.
Though Australia holds the tiebreaker in opposition to Korea, there may very well be a three-way tie for runner-up in Pool B with Korea, Australia, and the Czech Republic. They would then be ranked by which membership had the fewest runs divided by the variety of defensive outs recorded within the video games performed between the three golf equipment. Japan would be the doubtless Pool B winner, getting one of many two spots that advance to the subsequent spherical.
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“They swing hard at 95-plus mph fastballs,” Korea supervisor Kang-Chul Lee stated concerning the Czech Republic’s hitters earlier than the sport. “But at the same time, they are not good at making contact with breaking balls. Overall, their baseball skill is way better than we thought.”
Park relied on his slider and changeup to maintain the Czech batters off-balance. He tossed 4 2/3 innings and struck out eight batters. It took till Martin Cervenka’s double within the high of the fifth earlier than the European nation recorded its first base hit.
With Park pitching masterfully, Korea was in a position to open up an early 6-0 lead within the second inning in opposition to reigning Czech Baseball Extraliga Pitcher of the Year Lukas Ercoli. Though few of Korea’s hits within the first two frames had been hard-hit in opposition to the southpaw curveball specialist, they discovered holes, fell out of gloves, or took tough hops earlier than bouncing into the outfield.
The Czech Republic battled – scoring two runs within the seventh and including one other within the eighth, however couldn’t full the comeback.
Former Twins Major Leaguer ByungHo Park recorded two hits and Padres shortstop Ha-Seong Kim knocked out two house runs within the victory. Korea will now hope for Australia to lose to Japan right here on Sunday evening and might want to defeat China on Monday night for an opportunity of reaching the quarterfinals.
The Czech workforce can even be rooting for Japan to maintain its personal qualification desires alive. Jeffrey Barto, who had deliberate on retiring from baseball to be the pitching coach for the Trebic Nuclears in 2021, saved CR’s bullpen for the ultimate recreation of the event in opposition to Australia. He tossed 5 2/3 innings, permitting only a Kim house run to mar his day.
Fortunately, it doesn’t matter what occurs on Pool B’s closing days, the Czech Republic has already achieved one purpose: Because they maintain the tiebreaker in opposition to China, they’ve assured themselves a spot within the 2026 World Baseball Classic event and won’t have to take part in a qualifier.
