“To think it would flip again” — Kim Hui-jip’s dramatic 8th-inning tying three-run homer, but Korea’s miraculous comeback on the brink of collapse [2026 APBC]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The promised 8th inning arrived. NC Dinos’ Kim Hui-jip (24) perfectly washed away the regret from the previous day (the 12th) with a dramatic tying three-run home run. However, Korea’s pitching staff immediately gave up a large number of runs, putting the miraculous comeback in jeopardy.

On the 13th at Tokyo Dome in Japan, during the second game of the group stage against Japan in the 2026 Asia Pro Baseball Championship (APBC), Kim Hui-jip hit a three-run home run over the center field fence in the top of the 8th inning with no outs and runners on first and third bases, off Mori Ta Shunya.

Earlier, Korea’s starting pitcher Kim Jin-wook wavered, allowing four hits (one home run), four walks, striking out four times, and giving up two runs over five innings. The team managed only scattered five hits and trailed Japan 1-5 through the seventh inning.

However, the top of the lineup returned in the 8th inning to create an opportunity. Against Nakamori Shunsuke, who took the mound in the top of the 8th, leadoff batter Kim Do-young reached on a straight walk. Ahn Hyun-min hit a ground ball to shortstop that turned into a double-play setup, but Kim Do-young used his quick legs to touch second base first, resulting in no outs and runners on first and second after video review.

Han Dong-hee drove in one run with a line drive to right-center field, maintaining the momentum, and Japan’s pitching staff changed from Nakamori to Mori Ta. Kim Hui-jip watched one pitch and fouled off another before crushing the third pitch over the center field fence by a wide margin. It was a massive three-run home run with a distance of 120 meters.

It was also a home run that washed away the regret from the previous day’s game against Australia. In the game against Australia, Kim Hui-jip hit a double in his first at-bat in the second inning by attacking the first pitch, and in his third at-bat, with two outs and bases loaded, he hit a large three-RBI double that struck the right field fence at Tokyo Dome directly, leading Korea’s six-run big inning. However, he also provided an opportunity for a comeback loss due to a catching error in the 8th inning.

Meanwhile, Korea’s joy was short-lived. Kim Young-woo, who took the mound in the bottom of the 8th, created a crisis with two outs and runners on first and second, then allowed a three-run home run over right-center field to Muneyama Rui, falling behind 5-8 in a re-comeback. Lee Jun-hyuk, who pitched afterward, also gave up a one-RBI double over the left fielder’s head to Yamaguchi Goki, leaving Korea trailing 5-9.

On this day, Korea’s batting order was Kim Ju-won (shortstop) - Kim Do-young (third baseman) - Ahn Hyun-min (right fielder) - Han Dong-hee (designated hitter) - Kim Hui-jip (second baseman) - Heo In-seo (catcher) - Moon Jung-bin (first baseman) - Kim Min-seok (left fielder) - Kim Ji-chan (center fielder). The starting pitcher was Kim Jin-wook.

Facing them, Japan’s lineup consisted of Masaki Tomoya (first baseman) - Muneyama Rui (shortstop) - Nishikawa Miso (left fielder) - Yamaguchi Goki (designated hitter) - Watanabe Seiya (third baseman) - Watarai Ryuki (right fielder) - Hasegawa Shinya (center fielder) - Koizumi Daiga (catcher) - Shoji Yudai (second baseman).

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original