“We struggled with the slower pitches of the other team’s pitchers,” said Liu Zhong-il, head coach of the Chinese Taipei baseball team after the team’s cold-game victory over Hong Kong in their first group game at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, “but we will be able to find our form against Chinese Taipei, where we need to attack the fastball.”
“The hitters were a little nervous at the beginning of the game, so they couldn’t get the timing of their hits,” Liu said after the team defeated Hong Kong 10-0 in the bottom of the eighth inning in their first Group B game at the Shaoxing Baseball and Softball Sports Center 1 near Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. “Later in the game, Hong Kong sent out pitchers who threw (relatively) fastballs, and I think we did a good job of getting the timing of our hits.”
On the day, Korea was unable to capitalize on their opponents’ fastballs in the 80-90 kilometers per hour range, scoring only three runs in the seventh inning. It was disappointing as it was expected to be a cold game victory. Korea’s offense exploded in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring seven runs to end the game.
“Actually, today’s starting pitcher Won Tae-in (Samsung Lions) was only supposed to go three innings, but the game was tied at one (in the top of the fourth inning), so I sent him out to the fourth inning,” said Ryu Jung-il. “But I’m glad that Kim Hye-sung (Kiwoom Heroes), who hit a single in the bottom of the fourth inning, was able to break through the clog.”
Regarding No. 4 hitter Kang Baek-ho (KT WIZ), who went 0-for-4 with a walk and three strikeouts on the day, he said, “I don’t think my batting is bad,” and added, “Tomorrow (against Taiwan), they have a fastball pitcher, so I’m sure I’ll do well.”
“I think Taiwan will start a left-handed pitcher, but I don’t think I’ll make any changes,” he said, “I’ll meet with the coaches first.”
As for the umpire’s call in the bottom of the third inning, he was left scratching his head.
“(First baseman) Noh Si-hwan (Hanwha Eagles) went past second baseman Choi Ji-hoon (SSG Landers) and was out, but I don’t think the umpire saw it,” Ryu said.
“I think the runners thought it was a hit, but we can’t make that mistake in tomorrow’s game.”
In the bottom of the third inning, with runners on first and second with the score 1-0, Kang hit a line drive to right field that the Hong Kong right fielder leaped to catch.
Thinking it was a hit, Choi Ji-hoon, the second baseman, ran to third and came back, and Noh Si-hwan, the first baseman, ran at full speed and made a mistake to beat Choi Ji-hoon to second.
The umpires overturned the triple play call, sending Choi to second base and Noh to the dugout after Korean coach Lee Jong-yeol argued that Choi’s feet were faster.토토사이트
The first base umpire then made a bizarre call that sent Choi to first base. The umpires mistakenly thought that Noh had come home quickly, and the situation was complicated by the fact that they could not distinguish between Choi Ji-hoon and Noh.
Both Korea and Hong Kong took turns appealing to the umpires, and after a lengthy delay, the game resumed with runners on second and first.
After the twists and turns, South Korea defeated Hong Kong and will play the second game of the tournament against title contenders Chinese Taipei at the same venue on February 2.