Ryu Ji-hyun’s South Korea national team opened the 2026 World Baseball Classic with an 11-4 win over the Czech Republic on March 5 at the Tokyo Dome in Japan in Group C play.
It was South Korea’s first victory in a WBC opener since 2009, ending a 17-year drought in first-game wins.
South Korea is aiming for the quarterfinals after failing to advance past the group stage in three straight tournaments in 2013, 2017 and 2023.
Starter So Hyeong-jun (KT Wiz) worked three scoreless innings, allowing four hits. Noh Kyung-eun (SSG Landers), Jeong Woo-joo (Hanwha Eagles), Park Young-hyun (KT), Jo Byeong-hyeon (SSG), Kim Young-gyu (NC Dinos) and Yoo Young-chan (LG Twins) each pitched one inning in relief.
South Korea hit four home runs. Seven of the nine starters had hits, with Kim Do-young (KIA Tigers) and Kim Hye-seong (Los Angeles Dodgers) the exceptions.
Moon Bo-kyung (LG) went 2 for 3 with five RBIs, highlighted by a grand slam. Korean American big leaguer Shea Whitcomb (Houston Astros) hit two homers and drove in three runs, going 2 for 4. Jeremiah Jones (Detroit Tigers) also homered. Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants) went 2 for 4.
South Korea plays Japan at 7 p.m. on March 7 at the same venue in its second group game.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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