It’s a mountain over a mountain.
The “2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier 12” team led by Ryu Joong-il won 8-4 against Cuba in the second Group B match held at Tianmu Baseball Stadium in Taipei, Taiwan on Sunday. With the victory, the team announced its first win of the tournament. After losing 3-6 against Taiwan on Saturday, the opening game of the tournament, Ryu quickly recovered mood and secured a valuable victory.
Many players contributed to the victory, but Kim Do-young stood out by far. He garnered five RBIs with a grand slam and a solo homer. He displayed solid defense and lightened pitchers’ shoulders. The final result is three hits (two homers) from four times at bat (five RBIs). Indeed, he is a one-man show.
Kwak Bin, who started the game, displayed outstanding pitching. He pitched four innings, allowing three hits, five strikeouts, and three walks, laying the groundwork for his team’s victory. So Hyung-joon (one ⅔ scoreless inning), Kwak Do-gyu (⅓ scoreless inning), Lee Young-ha (one run, no earned run in one inning), Kim Taek-yeon (three runs in 0 innings), Jung Hae-young (one inning scoreless) and Park Young-hyun (one inning scoreless inning) also defended their team’s victory by blocking Cuba’s batters.
The Korean national team currently has one win and one loss in its group league matches. To advance to the Super Round, it must beat Japan, the rival team. With Taiwan currently ranking first in Group B with two wins, if the Korean team loses to Japan, both Japan and Taiwan will maintain their lead with two wins. Depending on the situation, the Dominican Republic, which will face off against Australia, can also secure two wins. Victory is desperately needed in order not to yield an advantage to the opponent team. 카지노사이트
The national team has high expectations on left-handed pitcher Choi Seung-yong (Doosan Bears). Choi started the season late this year due to his injury. He returned to the team in late July and recorded an earned run average of 6.00 in 27 innings with two wins and one hold in 12 games. Although he was unlucky in many ways this year, he has shown strength in big games several times. Notably, he pitched in nine previous post-season games and recorded no runs in all but one. His record was one run in nine ⅓ innings.
In particular, in the wild card match against KT Wiz held last month, he started and proved once again that he is a big game pitcher with four scoreless innings in four ⅔.
In response, Japan announced Hiroto Takahashi (1.38 ERA) as the starting pitcher for the Central League and the leading ERA in the two major leagues. If the national team met Livan Moinello, the Pacific League’s No. 1 ERA (1.88 ERA) in the match against Cuba, it should face Takahashi, which is one step higher this time.
Players are showing strong will to win the match between Korea and Japan. It is a rivalry game, but they must overcome in order to advance to the Super Round, which they aim for.
“I don’t think it’s a game against Japan. I’m going to throw it as usual,” Choi said after the game. “I know Shota Morishita (Japan’s fourth batter), but I don’t really think about it. I’m still young, so I’m going to throw it with spirit.”
“I heard that starting pitchers are really good tomorrow (May 15). I think they will be similar,” Kim Do-young, the center of the batting lineup, said after the game. “I will keep the same mindset as today (May 14), and just do what I need to pay attention to. For now, I want to challenge myself,” Kim said after the game. “I’ve had only easy hits so far. I think I’m good because I’m confident.”
