'Even if it's Hong Kong, a team perfect game' Noh Si-hwan opens the scoring with a two-run homer; Cho Hyung-woo hits a bases-loaded home run, Ryu Ji-hyun leads to a 13-0 '7th-inning cold victory' [Aichi Nagoya AG]

*This content was translated by AI.

They achieved a perfect balance between hitting and pitching. The lineup erupted with offense, while the pitching staff delivered another flawless performance following the first game to secure an overwhelming victory. They have now crossed the halfway point toward advancing to the Super Round as the top team in their group.

The South Korean baseball representative team led by manager Ryu Ji-hyun secured a 13-0 seventh-inning cold game victory against Hong Kong on the 22nd at Toyohashi Citizen Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, during the second group stage match of Group B at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

The South Korean baseball representative team, aiming for a fifth consecutive tournament championship, started off on a high note with a 5-0 victory over Taiwan on the 21st and today secured another decisive win, boosting their chances of advancing to the Super Round as the top team in their group.

In this tournament, a Gold Game is declared if there is a 15-point lead after five innings or a 10-point lead after seven innings. South Korea had already built a 10-0 lead by the fifth inning and ended the game early in the seventh.

South Korea fielded a starting lineup with Kim Ju-won (shortstop), Yoon Dong-hee (right fielder), Kim Do-young (designated hitter), Noh Si-hwan (third baseman), Moon Bo-kyung (first baseman), Park Jun-soon (second baseman), Moon Hyun-bin (left fielder), Cho Hyung-woo (catcher), and Kim Ji-chan (center fielder). Starting pitcher was Choi Min-seok.

Hong Kong countered with Ong Chun-wai (left fielder), Mok Jun-lim (center fielder), Cheng Kai-ching (shortstop), Ng Yu-bung (right fielder), Ma Han-man (third baseman), Tam Ho-hin (catcher), Anson Fung (designated hitter), Jin Sau (first baseman), and Jin Tak-kyo (second baseman). Mok Jun-bae started on the mound.

South Korea started off on a high note from the first inning. In the top of the first with two outs, their focus was evident. Kim Do-young, who had hit a double the previous day, reached base with an infield single, and Noh Si-hwan launched a two-run home run that soared well over the center field wall.

In the second inning, Park Jun-soon reached base with an infield single, and a series of throwing errors by the opponent allowed him to advance to second base. With one out, consecutive hits from Cho Hyung-woo and Kim Ji-chan added another run.

The game was decided early in the third inning. Once again, their focus with two outs shone brightly. Moon Bo-kyung hit a single, Park Jun-soon was hit by a pitch, and Moon Hyun-bin drew a walk to load the bases. Cho Hyung-woo stepped up to the plate. With a 2-1 count, Cho swung decisively at the fourth pitch, sending the ball over the left-field wall for a grand slam. The lead extended to 7-0.

The team did not overwork Choi Min-seok, who started and threw a perfect game through two innings with just 18 pitches. In the third inning, Kim Jin-wook was brought in. Kim Jin-wook also retired all three batters he faced to complete his inning, and in the fourth inning, Choi Jun-yong retired all three batters he faced (KKK) to end the frame.

After a brief rest in the fourth inning, South Korea's lineup completed a double-digit scoring run in the fifth. Following Moon Bo-kyung, Park Jun-soon also drew a walk. With two outs and runners on second and third, Kim Ji-chan hit a single to left field, bringing both runners home. After Kim Ju-won drew a walk, Yoon Dong-hee, who had hit a home run in the first game, delivered a two-run single to extend the lead to 10-0.

Kim Young-woo took the mound in the fifth inning. He allowed no hits and handed over the ball to Bae Chan-seung starting from the sixth inning. South Korea retired all three batters again in the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh, after Lee Jae-hyun hit a double, Yoon Dong-hee delivered another two-run single to extend the lead further. After Kim Do-young drew a walk, with one out and runners on first and third, Park Jae-hyun hit a two-run double for one RBI, and Jung Jun-jae added another run with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Sung Young-tak took the mound in the seventh inning to close out the game. He allowed a deep hit toward left field against Yung Chien-wai. Although it nearly became his first hit allowed, left fielder Moon Hyun-bin made a solid catch, allowing Sung Young-tak to exhale in relief. He then retired the remaining two batters, setting a historic record for a 'team perfect game.'

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*This content was translated by AI.