South Korea, managed by Ryu Ji-hyeon, lost 8-6 to Japan on March 7 at Tokyo Dome in its second game in Group C of the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
After beating the Czech Republic 11-4 on March 5, South Korea fell to 1-1 and sat third in the group behind Japan and Australia, both 2-0. To reach the quarterfinals in Miami, South Korea must finish in the top two.
The loss extended South Korea’s losing streak to Japan in official games to 11. South Korea has not beaten Japan since a 4-3 comeback win in the 2015 WBSC Premier12 semifinals.
Pitching proved costly. Starter Ko Young-pyo (KT Wiz) did not complete three innings, allowing three home runs and four runs while striking out four in 2 2/3 innings. Reliever Cho Byung-hyun (SSG Landers) followed and gave up a solo homer, allowing one run in 1 1/3 innings.
Control issues decided it. With the score tied 5-5, South Korea issued four walks and hit batters in the seventh inning. Park Young-hyun (KT) and Kim Young-gyu (NC Dinos) each allowed two walks as Japan pulled ahead.
South Korea’s offense produced nine hits and scored six runs, its most against Japan since a 10-8 loss in the 2019 Premier12 super round. It also surpassed South Korea’s previous single-game high against Japan at the WBC.
Lee Jung-hoo (San Francisco Giants) went 2 for 5 with an RBI and scored twice. Jermaine Jones (Detroit Tigers) went 2 for 5 and scored once. Kim Hye-seong (Los Angeles Dodgers) hit a game-tying two-run homer in the fourth and finished 1 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Japan was led by Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers), who hit a tying home run in the third inning and went 2 for 2 with two walks, an RBI and three runs scored. He was named the game’s MVP.
South Korea will play Taiwan at noon March 8 at the same venue in its third group game, needing a win to keep its quarterfinal hopes on track.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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