ⓒ JoongAng Ilbo / JoongAng Ilbo Japanese version2023.02.24 14:49
The Korean baseball team, which participates in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), continues its winning streak in practice games.
The Korean national team, led by manager Lee Kang-cheol, defeated KT Wiz 8-2 in a practice match held in Tucson, Arizona on the 24th (Japan time). It is the third consecutive victory following the NC Dinos match on the 17th (8-2) and the Kia Tigers match on the 20th (12-6). The batting line is especially good. He had 14 hits in 9 innings and double-digit hits in all three games.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Kang Baek-ho (KT), who played as the 4th batter and designated hitter, hit an oversized 2-runner that landed on the road over the bullpen on the right field. It was his second home run in the first practice game in a week since the game against NC on the 17th. Park Byung-ho (KT) also played as the fifth batter and hit a Chuetsu solo in the third inning.
Leadoff Lee Jeong-hoo (Keum Heroes) is doing well with two hits in three at-bats, including timely hits. No. 2 Na Sung-beom (Kia) also added momentum with multiple hits, including a three-base hit by Chuetsu.
On the mound, starting pitcher Ko Yong-pyo (KT) threw 43 pitches to keep a clean sheet in three innings, and veteran Kim Kwang-hyun (SSG) kept a clean sheet in the next two innings. . Yang Hyun-jung (Kia), Lee Young-chan (NC), and Kim Won-jung (Lotte) also kept a scoreless inning. Gu Chang-mo (NC), who took the mound in the 9th inning, gave up 2 runs with 3 hits and 1 walk. Ko Woo-seok (LG Twins), the closing pitcher, took the mound in the 9th inning as a pitcher for KT, and kept the national team’s batters in one inning with no runs.
Coach Lee Kang-cheol said after the game, “Overall, the fielders are in good condition. Regarding starting pitcher Takanaga Omote on this day, he emphasized, “I haven’t reached the appearance of last year’s good season. I need to improve my condition.” Takanaga Omote, an underhand player, is expected to start in the first match against Australia in the WBC first round.
Coach Lee referred to veteran pitchers Kim Gwang-hyun and Yang Hyun-choo, saying, “It seems that their condition has improved to 70%. represented. Kim Gwang-hyun and Yang Hyun-chuk have played as ace players in their teams, but it is highly likely that they will play the role of cutting off the flow of the opponent’s batting line by taking the mound in an important moment of the game in this WBC.
The Korean national team will have another evaluation match against KT on the 25th. Like the game on the 24th, the pitchers of the national team will stand on the mound on the KT side and play against the batters of the national team. Since KT coach Lee took over the role of manager of the national team, it is possible to run the team freely.
Coach Lee said, “If Kim Yoon-sik (LG) takes the mound in the game on the 25th, every pitcher in the national team will finish his pitching once. After that, the pitchers of the national team will fill the pitching innings on the mound of KT.”
