Liu Zhong-il got off to a winning start, but it was a sour taste.
South Korea’s baseball team, led by Ryu Jung-il, defeated Hong Kong 10-0 in eight innings in the first game of their Baseball Group B matchup at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games at the Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Sports Center in Zhejiang Province, China on Monday afternoon.
The game was not as expected as Korea’s bats were silent against Hong Kong, ranked 45th in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) World Rankings.
Won Tae-in (Samsung) started the game and pitched four innings of one-hit ball with eight strikeouts and no runs. Jung Woo-young (LG), Choi Ji-min (KIA), Jang Hyun-seok (Masan Yongmago), and Park Young-hyun (KT) followed with one inning of scoreless relief each.
The batting lineup consisted of Kim Hye-sung (Kiwoom), Choi Ji-hoon (SSG), Noh Si-hwan (Hanwha), Kang Baek-ho (KT), Moon Bo-kyung (LG), Yoon Dong-hee (Lotte), Park Sung-sung (SSG), Kim Hyung-joon (NC), and Kim Sung-yoon (Samsung).
Unlike the mound, the batting lineup was a problem. South Korea got off to a quick start in the top of the first inning, as Choi Ji-hoon’s infield single and Noh Si-hwan’s walk put runners on first and second with Moon Bo-kyung leading off with a single to right.
However, they were unable to capitalize, and the next run came in the bottom of the fourth inning. After back-to-back singles by Yoon Dong-hee and Park Sung-sung and a walk by Kim Sung-yoon, Kim Hye-sung hit a two-run double to center field.
After falling silent again, South Korea exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth. One out later, Kim Hye-sung doubled to left and Choi Ji-hoon followed with an infield single. With runners on first and third, Noh Si-hwan singled to right.
Then, with one out, Moon Bo-kyung scored on a passed ball. The bases were loaded, and Yoon Dong-hee doubled, Park Sung-sung singled, Kim Hye-sung singled, and the bases were loaded for a 10-0 lead.
At the Asian Games, cold games are declared when the score is 15 runs or more after the fifth inning and 10 runs or more after the seventh inning.
South Korea, who are in Group B with Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei and Thailand, will face off against the ‘nemesis’ Chinese Taipei tomorrow (February 2).
The batting lineup had a tough task against 카지노사이트 the tough Chinese Taipei. Despite scoring a lot of runs late in the game, it was a frustrating display from the center of the order as they wasted chances.
In particular, Kang Baek-ho struggled on the day, going 0-for-4 with one walk and three strikeouts. He struck out three times as he struggled with the opposition’s slower pitches. It is more painful to be hit by a pitcher than a hitless at-bat.
If the bats don’t come alive at the right time, this is going to be a tough game.