07/09/2023 2 Minute Read

Korea complete win against Puerto Rico, head to Super Round as Group A second-place finishers

The game resumed with Korea leading 5-1. They added three insurance runs at the bottom of the fifth and will start the Super Round against Japan. Puerto Rico will open the second phase against the Netherlands.

Korea defeated Puerto Rico, 8-1, completing a game that started on Wednesday as it was interrupted twice because of rain and then postponed to Thursday.

Taekyeon Kim and Geonwoo Park left Puerto Rico with no scoring chance. Korea then added three insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth to finally secure the victory.

The game was originally scheduled for 1 September, Friday, but was postponed to 6 September, Wednesday, and was called off again because of heavy rain.

The first two innings were played on Wednesday. Puerto Rico got to starter Kiho Park, loading the bases with no one out. Kim got the first out on strikes, then walked in the first run. Soon after, the umpiring crew stopped play as rain started to pour heavily.

Taekyeon Kim took the mound as the game resumed on Thursday. He struck out the side to get out of the inning.

Puerto Rico's starter Dicky Gonzalez retired the leadoff hitter, then loaded the bases allowing a double to Anseok Jeong and two walks.

He allowed a couple of two-out walks to give Korea the lead, then Sangiun Lee hit a three-RBI double to left field, extending the lead to 5-1.

On Thursday, Taekyeon Kim resumed the way he had finished, striking out the side in the top of the third.

Left-hander Alexis Martinez took the mound for Puerto Rico in the bottom of the third.

After hitting the 40-pitch mark, and striking out seven of nine batters faced, Kim left for right-hander Geonwoo Park.

Julye Lee led off the bottom of the fourth with a single, then reached third on two consecutive bunts. The second, by designated hitter Sangjiun Lee, was scored a hit. Right fielder Junwon Yeon tried to squeeze in Korea's sixth run bunt bunted into a double play.

First baseman Tongkeon Yeo reached on a fielding error with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Martinez walked two consecutive batters to load the bases and gave up a two-RBI single to right field to third baseman Hyunmin Cho. Seugmin Lee scored on a double steal attempt that ended with Cho called the second out at second.

Mireu Jeon got the final two outs.

Both Korea and Puerto Rico will play doubleheaders. Korea will face No. 1 Japan at 14:30 (local time). Puerto Rico will open the Super Round against the Netherlands at 11:45 (local time).