The South Korean baseball team is leading Taiwan 3-0 in a tightly contested pitching duel during their first match of the B Group preliminary round at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, held at Okazaki Central Comprehensive Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Starting pitcher Kwak Bin, from the Doosan Bears, delivered an impressive performance, throwing six innings without allowing a hit and finishing with no runs scored. He recorded 10 strikeouts and threw 90 pitches. Kwak, who leads the KBO League this season with a 2.26 ERA and 186 strikeouts, was entrusted with the starting role as the team aims for its fifth consecutive tournament title.
In contrast, Taiwan opted for 20-year-old rookie Lin Yi-Wei, who lacks professional experience, instead of Wang Yan-Cheng, who plays for the Hanwha Eagles in the KBO League.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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