Preview: Korea, Japan to battle in Super Round Finale

The Tokyo Dome will host a preview of the 2019 Premier12 Championship game tonight, as no. 1 ranked Japan and no. 3 ranked Korea go head-to-head.

Korea guaranteed their place in the Tokyo2020 Olympics, as well as the 2019 Premier12 Championship game with a 7-3 win over no. 6 ranked Mexico last night. Korea plated all of their seven runs in the fifth inning, Hyun-Soo Kim’s three-run double capped off the inning for the defending Premier12 champions.

Korea’s victory also sealed Japan’s place in the Premier12 Championship game. Japan, who finished third at the 2015 Premier12, are coming off a 3-1 win over Mexico on Wednesday night. Three hits for Hayato Sakamoto and a stunning six inning start from Shota Imanaga lead Japan to their second win of the Super Round.

Korea will send Seungho Lee to the mound for the second time this tournament. Lee saw one inning of work in Group C against Cuba, striking out two and allowing one hit.

Takayuki Kishi makes his third appearance at the 2019 Premier12 after two relief appearances against Chinese Taipei and Australia. The right-hander has struck out one and conceded one hit in three innings of work.

First pitch is slated for 19:00 JST at the Tokyo Dome tonight.