Ah! Korean baseball 'let go of a victory within reach' — Shocking walk-off loss after three-run collapse in the bottom of the eighth inning... Tournament ends at 'final 6th place' [U-23 World Championship]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

The Korea national baseball team for players aged 23 and under (U-23) finished the World Championship in sixth place after suffering a disappointing walk-off loss to Puerto Rico in its final match of the tournament.

The U-23 national baseball team (team manager Lee Tae-il), dispatched by the Korea Baseball & Softball Association (President Yang Hae-young, hereinafter referred to as the Association), lost 5-6 to Puerto Rico on a walk-off hit in the eighth inning of extra innings in the final game of the Super Round at the 6th World Baseball Championship held at Roberto Clemente Stadium in Nicaragua on the 14th (local time).

With this, the team concluded the tournament in sixth place with a record of five losses in the Super Round.

Korea advanced to the Super Round after losing consecutively to Venezuela and Japan in the Opening Round. The team then lost consecutively to Australia, Taiwan, and Puerto Rico in the Super Round, finishing the tournament in sixth place with a 0-5 record in the Super Round.

Korea scored the first run. In the top of the fourth inning, with the score tied at 0-0, leadoff batter Park Han-gyeol (NC Dinos) reached base on a hit, and Kang Seong-u (Lotte Giants) hit a two-run home run over the left field fence. It was the first home run for the Korean team in this tournament.

In the top of the fifth inning, starting with a leadoff hit by Lee Won-jun (SSG Landers), Korea added one more run to take a 3-0 lead. On the pitcher's mound, starter Park Ji-ho (Military Service) pitched three scoreless innings. Subsequently, Shin Sang-yeon (SSG Landers) pitched one scoreless inning, and Seo Jun-o (Doosan Bears) pitched two scoreless innings, each performing well to keep the Puerto Rican lineup scoreless through the sixth inning.

However, the team failed to overcome the critical moment in the bottom of the seventh inning, the final defensive inning of regulation play. After a walk with one out, they allowed consecutive hits and then took a line drive RBI single, followed by another hit that tied the game at 3-3. Center fielder Kim Seung-ju (Hanyang University 3) threw his body toward Niebes's batted ball, but unfortunately it did not reach his glove.

The game ultimately went to a walk-off situation in the top of the eighth inning. The Korean team regained the lead. With one out and bases loaded, ninth batter Lee Won-jun hit a two-RBI double, making the score 5-3. However, in the bottom of the eighth, they allowed a two-RBI double to Eldred George, tying the game again, and then gave up a line drive walk-off single to Josnel Ortiz, losing the game narrowly.

The team hit a total of 10 hits on the day, with the lineup showing rare power, but failed to overcome the late-game crisis.

Meanwhile, in this tournament, the Korean team advanced to the Super Round from Group B of the Opening Round with a record of three wins and two losses after defeating Cuba (3-2), Great Britain (3-0), and South Africa (7-0).

In the Super Round, they lost consecutively to Taiwan (1-6), Australia (2-4), and Puerto Rico (5-6), recording a final record of three wins and five losses. In particular, in games against Japan (5-6), Australia (2-4), and Puerto Rico (5-6), the team engaged in late-game chases that extended into extra innings, but ultimately received disappointing results.

The Korean national baseball team is scheduled to return home on the 18th through Incheon International Airport after completing all tournament schedules.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original