The South Korean baseball team, aiming for a fifth consecutive Asian Games title, suffered a shocking 0-5 defeat to Japan's amateur team. Despite fielding a roster of professional players, South Korea was unable to score a single run. This marks the first loss to Japan in the Asian Games since the 2006 Doha tournament, a span of 20 years.
Under the leadership of manager Ryu Ji-hyun, the South Korean team lost its opening match of the Super Round on September 25 at the Toyohashi Municipal Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
Having advanced through the group stage with three consecutive wins, South Korea entered the Super Round with a victory over Taiwan but now stands at 1-1 following this defeat. Japan, meanwhile, improved to 2-0, moving closer to securing a spot in the finals.
In the Super Round, four teams carry over results from the group stage. South Korea and Japan, both with three wins, started with one victory each against the second-place teams, while Taiwan and China, with two wins and one loss, faced off against the top teams from the other group.
The game was defined by South Korea's offensive struggles. The team could not find a rhythm against Japan's starting pitcher, Shin Higuichi, who held them to just four hits and no runs over seven innings. South Korea managed only four hits throughout the entire game.
There were missed opportunities. In the first inning, Kim Joo-won reached base with a hit, but No Si-hwan grounded into a double play. In the fourth inning, after Kim Joo-won again got on base, No Si-hwan's hit resulted in another double play. In the fifth, Park Jun-soon recorded a single, but Yoon Dong-hee also grounded into a double play. The three hits through the sixth inning all ended in double plays, stifling any momentum.
The pitching staff also faltered. Starter So Hyung-jun allowed a barrage of hits in the third inning. After facing a crisis with hits and walks, he surrendered a two-run double to Motoki Mukoyama, marking the first run against him. An infield groundout added another run, and a throwing error by Kim Joo-won extended the deficit to 0-3. So finished with three innings pitched, allowing four hits and three runs (two earned).
In the fourth inning, Kim Jin-wook managed to escape a no-out, first-and-second situation without allowing a run, leaving room for a potential comeback. However, the game effectively turned in the sixth inning. After bringing in Jo Byeong-hyeon and Park Young-hyeon, South Korea allowed two more runs on timely hits from Japan. With the score now at 5-0, South Korea needed to manage their score differential for potential tiebreakers.
South Korea's offense failed to capitalize on any further opportunities, resulting in a 0-5 loss. This defeat marks the first time South Korea has lost to Japan in the Asian Games since falling 10-7 in Doha in 2006. South Korea had previously defeated Japan twice in the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games and once in the 2022 Hangzhou Games.
The loss complicates South Korea's path to the finals. If South Korea defeats China on September 26 and Japan beats Taiwan, the two teams will meet again in the finals on September 27. Conversely, if South Korea and Taiwan both win, the three teams will be tied at 2-1, necessitating a tiebreaker based on runs scored and allowed, as well as offensive and defensive innings. For South Korea, winning against China and managing their score becomes crucial.
South Korea will face China in their second Super Round match on September 26 at 6:30 PM at the same venue.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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