Ryu Jung-il-ho takes on Japan at the Tokyo Dome, the heart of Japanese baseball. The Japanese are stronger than they were at the Hangzhou Asian Games, so it won't be easy.
South Korea's baseball team, led by coach Ryu Jung-il, will play Japan in the second qualifying game at 7 p.m. on Sunday at the Tokyo Dome in Japan.
Korea won the first game of the preliminary round against Australia 3-2 in 10 extra innings the previous day (Nov. 16). It was frustrating that the batting lineup couldn't get going, but it paid off.
Japan defeated Chinese Taipei 4-0 in the first round. They have the same number of wins as South Korea, but finished first on goal difference and goal difference.
South Korean players including Kim Hyung-joon greet Japanese players after their 2-0 win during the baseball super round match between South Korea and Japan at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games at the Shaoxing Baseball Sports and Culture Center near Hangzhou, China, on Friday.
With the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams facing off, this game is important for both teams as it marks the road to the final.
Korea has brought a number of key players from the Hangzhou Asian Games to this tournament. In addition to captain Kim Hye-sung (Kiwoom), Moon Dong-joo, Noh Si-hwan (Hanwha), Choi Ji-hoon (SSG), Yoon Dong-hee (Lotte), Kim Young-kyu, Kim Hyung-joon, Kim Joo-won (NC), and many other Asian Games gold medalists.
South Korea defeated Japan 2-0 in the first match of the Super Round at the Asian Games (Oct. 5). Park Se-woong (Lotte) pitched six shutout innings, while Noh Si-hwan was responsible for two hits in the batting order. Riding the momentum from there, Korea went on to defeat Chinese Taipei in the final.
Ryu Jung-il-ho is determined to defeat Japan once again, but things have changed. 슬롯