Taiwan Media Review "Korea was really strong! Il was rather a classic → Kim Hye-sung was scary and it was remarkable to minimize bullpen consumption."

*This content was translated by AI.

Taiwanese media, who watched Korea-Japan match, the best big match in Group C of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), paid tribute to the power of Korean baseball. Contrary to the prospect of a landslide victory for Japan, South Korea seems to have admired the part of the game in which they pounded the Japanese mound throughout the game and produced a great match that made their hands sweat.

The Korean national baseball team, led by head coach Ryu Ji-hyun (55), lost 6-8 in the second Group C match of 2026 WBC against Japan at Tokyo Dome, Japan on the 7th. Led 3-0 and allowed a 3-5 upset, but followed well to 5-5. Unfortunately, he gave up three runs in the seventh inning. It was a bit of a disappointing game. Until the end of the fifth inning, it was a loss that collapsed by giving up three runs in the seventh inning of the bases-loaded crisis.

The Free Times (LTN), one of Taiwan's four major daily newspapers, said in a commentary after the Korea-Japan match on the 7th, "It was a great match. Korea was a really strong opponent. He scored the first run against Japanese starter Yusei Kikuchi with three consecutive hits with only five pitches. Japan's local broadcasters fell silent on South Korea's lightning strike," he wrote.

At the same time, he paid attention to Kim Hye-sung (27, LA Dodgers)' home run. The media said, "Kim Hye-sung, the ninth batter, hit a strong two-run home run to tie the game 5-5. Korea did not give in to Japan's onslaught. Shohei Ohtani and Kim Hye-sung's unusually 'Dodgers Civil War' was a fierce battle without any concessions from either side.

The Taiwanese national team, which will meet South Korea at 12 p.m. on the 8th, gave a prospect. "Although South Korea lost the match against Japan, it was thoroughly calculated in the mound management. Fourteen of the 15 pitchers on the total roster appear to be ready to play against Taiwan immediately. Except for Ko Young-pyo, who was a starting pitcher, he cautioned that the all-out war was fully preserved as possible.

In the meantime, the Free Times said, "With the exception of Ko Young-pyo, all bullpen pitchers such as Cho Byung-hyun, Son Joo-young, Ko Woo-suk, Park Young-hyun, Kim Young-kyu, and Kim Taek-yeon were thoroughly managed within 30 pitches." In fact, this is interpreted as a calculation that he will risk his life and death to win the match against Taiwan. "It can be said that the strategy to minimize the consumption of the mound was outstanding," he added.

Against this, Taiwan announced on the 8th that "right-handed fireballer" Gurin Ruyi Yang (26, Nippon Ham Fighters) will be the starting pitcher. Gurinruiyang proved his competitiveness by playing seven games in the Japanese Professional Baseball (NPB) in the 2025 season, with 2 wins, 2 losses and an ERA of 3.62. However, the Free Times said, "The key is how long Gurinruiyang will hold out the Korean batters who defeated Japan's Kikuchi with a 9.00 ERA in three innings," setting South Korea's fierce bat as the top priority for alert.

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*This content was translated by AI.