Korea beat Japan, will face USA in final of U-18 Baseball World Cup

Korea defeated (6-4) Japan, improved their record to 4-1 and qualified for the gold medal game of the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017. They will face USA Sunday 10 September at 5 pm (local time; 11 pm CET; 6 am in Seoul).
Korea led the game from the start, getting to left hander Taura. The lefthander had appeared in 5 previous games so far, connecting for a stunning 27 strike outs in 12.1 innings as a reliever. Both teams were plagued by defensive errors during the course of the game.

Japan give the ball to Fuminaru Taura, who has been their top asset out of the bullpen so far. Korea waste no time in getting to him. Center fielder Jang Junghwan leads off with a hard liner to left, just over third baseman Yasuda glove. Shortstop Bae Ji Wan bunts Jang to second and reaches himself on the throwing error by Taura. Both runners advance on the error. After catcher Kang Baek Ho strikes out, designated hitter Gwak Been grounds out to second and scores Jang. Right fielder Ye Jin Woo follows with a line drive along the left field line worth a double and scores Bae. He touches home plate to make it 3-0 on a base hit by second baseman Choi Jun Woo.

Japan tie it in the top of the second against Korea starter Kim Bin and with some help from an error. With one out, left fielder Sakurai singles and designated hitter Nakamura walks. Catcher Koga sends a a sharp roller to right, that goes right below first baseman Han Dong Hui glove (he’s charged an error). Sakurai scores and Nakamura reaches third. Kim Min strikes out center fielder Maruyama, then scores Nakamura on a wild pitch. Koga reaches third on the play and ties the game on a base hit by second baseman Nishimaki.

Taura opens the third with control issues and he walks the bases loaded. With one out, he throws 2 strikes in a row to Bae Ji Hwan and then walks him on 4 straight balls to put Korea ahead again. His heroics are over as Kento Kawabata takes over from here. Kang Baek Ho looks at a ball and then delivers an RBI single to left. Kawabata is then out of the jam as he strikes out Gwak Been and gets Ye Jin Woon on a grounder to shortstop.
Korea add a run in the bottom of the fourth. With Jang Jun Hwan at second (walk, stolen base), Kang Baek Ho triples on a bullet in the gap to left center. He is then the third out at third as he runs into third base coach.

In the top of the sixth Japan cut the gap. Yasuda walks and, with one out, Sakurai singles to left. After a coaching visit, Kim Min walks Nakamura to load the bases. Koga scores Yasuda with a sacrifice fly to left. It’s all for Kim Bin and Ha Jun Young takes the mound. The left hander strikes out pinch hitter Inoue.
Japan blows a scoring chance in the eighth. With 2 outs, Sakurai sends a towering fly ball to deep left field. Yi In Hyok was playing shallow and cannot get to the ball. Sakurai (the play was scored double plus error) reaches third. Ha Jun Young walks Nakamura on 4 pitches, but then strikes out Koga to end the threat.

Kim Jeong Woo opens the ninth playing the wizard to scoop a hard grounder by pinch hitter Masuda. His throw his high, but Han Dong Hui handles it on the bag. Ha Jun Young gets on strikes Kosuke Ito (another pinch hitter) and the game is over as Fujiwara grounds out to shortstop.

Bae Ji Hwan jumps, Choi Jun Woo covers as Nishimaki of Japan reaches secondo (Christian J Stewart)