“Is Japanese baseball the Brazil of soccer?” The reality of Korean baseball’s “frog in a well” status confirmed with shock... A terrifying record of loss, loss, loss, loss, loss, loss, loss, loss, loss, loss, draw, loss, loss — they lost without even trying. “Runners-up for three consecutive tournaments” [APBC]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

It feels much like facing Brazil in the World Cup. The Korean national baseball team, once again, failed to exert any significant force in their fateful match against Japan, suffering a powerless defeat. Korean baseball, which had recently been criticized as a “frog in a well” at international tournaments, swallowed another bitter pill.

The Korean national baseball team, led by Manager Choi Won-ho, lost 1-5 to the Japanese national team in the final of the 2026 Asia Pro Baseball Championship (APBC) held at Tokyo Dome on the 15th.

With this result, Korea has finished as runner-up for three consecutive tournaments. In the inaugural APBC tournament in 2017, Korea faced Japan in the final and lost 0-7, settling for second place. Then, in the second tournament held in 2023, they narrowly lost by a single run, 3-4, again finishing as runner-up. And with today’s defeat, they had to settle for being runners-up for three consecutive tournaments.

Korea advanced to the final of this tournament with a record of one win and two losses in the preliminary round. They suffered a shocking 7-8 loss to Australia in their first match on the 12th. Following that, they lost 5-9 to Japan in the second match held on the 13th, putting them on the brink after two defeats.

However, they won 6-4 against Taiwan in the third match on the 14th. In cases of tied win-loss records, the TQB (Team Quality Balance), which calculates (runs scored/attacking innings) minus (runs allowed/defensive innings), placed them ahead of Taiwan and Australia (both with one win and two losses), securing a spot in the final. Nevertheless, they failed to overcome the massive wall that is Japan once again in the decisive match.

With this defeat, Korea has fallen into a 13-game losing streak (with one draw) against the Japanese national team, which includes professional players. Since achieving a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory over Japan in the semifinals of the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier 12 tournament, first held in 2015, Korea has not won a single game against Japan. After a 10-game losing streak, they drew 7-7 in last November’s K-Baseball Series, only to fall into another three-game losing streak.

On this day, Korea arranged its starting batting order as follows: Kim Ji-chan (center fielder), Kim Do-young (third baseman), Kim Ju-won (shortstop), Ahn Hyun-min (designated hitter), Kim Hwi-jip (second baseman), Moon Jung-bin (first baseman), Moon Hyun-bin (right fielder), Jo Hyeong-woo (catcher), and Park Jae-hyun (left fielder). Korea’s starting pitcher was Kim Geon-woo, who has been performing exceptionally well for the SSG Landers.

In response, Japan composed its starting lineup in this order: Masaki Tomoya (first baseman), Muneyama Rui (shortstop), Nishikawa Miso (right fielder), Yamaguchi Goki (designated hitter), Watanabe Seiya (third baseman), Watarai Ryuki (left fielder), Hasegawa Shinya (center fielder), Kojima Daiga (catcher), and Shoji Yudai (second baseman). This was the same starting batting order used in the preliminary second match against Korea earlier, with only the positions of the left and right fielders swapped. Japan’s starting pitcher was Takahashi Hiroto, who recorded a 5-7 record and a 2.62 ERA this season for the Chunichi Dragons.

Korea conceded the first run with a big hit in the bottom of the first inning, losing the momentum. With two outs and no runners on base, Nishikawa attacked the sixth pitch after a full count duel against Kim Geon-woo, drawing a solo home run over the left field fence.

Korea conceded another run in the bottom of the third inning. After leading off with a right-side single to Shoji, they also allowed a stolen base to second. A catcher’s throwing error to second compounded the situation, resulting in runners on first and second with no outs. Masaki struck out swinging. Subsequent batter Muneyama hit an RBI double through the gap between left and center field, bringing home runner Shoji from third base.

Ultimately, Japan scored three runs in the fifth inning, effectively securing the lead. With Kim Geon-woo still on the pitcher's mound, Kojima reached base with a right-side single. When subsequent batter Shoji attempted a sacrifice bunt, a throwing error by the pitcher compounded the situation, putting Korea in a crisis with runners on first and second and no outs. Here, Masaki hit a three-run home run over the left-center field fence. The score instantly became 5-0, widening the gap to five runs.

Korea was held to just two hits through six innings, suppressed by the strong pitching of Japanese starter Takahashi. Then, they scored their first run in the top of the seventh inning. With one out, Ahn Hyun-min hit a double over the third baseman’s head. This was the moment Korea first reached second base on this day. Subsequent batter Kim Hwi-jip grounded out to shortstop. In the at-bat for number six Moon Jung-bin, pinch hitter An Jae-seok was inserted. Here, An Jae-seok hit a clean left-side RBI single, giving Korea its first run. The score became 5-1.

In the top of the ninth inning, leading-off batter Kim Do-young reached base with a double, marking the first time a leadoff man had reached base since the first inning. However, the cleanup trio consisting of Kim Ju-won, Ahn Hyun-min, and Kim Hwi-jip each fell to a fly out to center field, a fly out to first base, and a ground ball to shortstop, respectively, resulting in a defeat.

Japanese starter Takahashi pitched seven innings (87 total pitches), allowing four hits, one walk, striking out seven, and giving up one run (one earned run) for a dominant performance, earning the win. Japan hit a total of 10 singles, with Nishikawa contributing three hits. In contrast, Korean starter Kim Geon-woo pitched four innings (91 total pitches), allowing six hits (two home runs), one walk, striking out five, and giving up five runs (four earned runs), taking the loss. Following him, Sung Young-tak (one inning, two hits allowed), Jo Dong-wook (one inning, one strikeout, perfect), Choi Jun-yong (two-thirds of an inning, two hits allowed, one strikeout), and Park Jung-min (one-third of an inning) pitched in succession without allowing runs. In the Korean lineup, Kim Ji-chan, Kim Ju-won, Ahn Hyun-min, An Jae-seok, and Kim Do-young each recorded one hit, totaling five hits.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.View Original