Korea blows lead, earns walk-off win against Netherlands

Korea blew a four-run lead in the eighth when The Netherlands even had the potential go-ahead run at second. Then came back to win it 5-4 on a walk-off sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Yun Wonhoe in the bottom of the tenth.

Korea built the lead with So Hyeongjun on the mound. The starter limited the Dutch to three hits and one walk and left after six innings and 83 pitches.

When So Hyeongjun left, Korea was probably regretting wasting some runners. Lee Seunghyun took care of the seventh and then the ball went to Kim Jinseob. Dutch catcher Leandro Anasagasti led off with a single and Kim walked the next batter. It was enough for Korea’s manager Lee Sung Ryul, who gave the call to Nam Jimin. Things did not improve. The Netherlands scored on a ground out, then centre fielder Ruendrick Piternella doubled to make it a one-run game and first baseman Shane Quant tied it with an RBI single. Nam allowed another single to right fielder Nathaniel Bentura, then got out of the inning on strikes.

Anasagasti led off the top of the ninth with a single, then tried to stretch it into a double. He was called out at second after a replay review.

The Dutch wasted another runner in the top of the tenth. Rainer Polonius, the lead runner in the international tie-break rule, was picked off second.

In the bottom of the tenth, with Jang Jaeyoung on second and Park Siwon at first, shortstop Park Min bunted for the single. Pinch hitter Yun Wonhoe stepped to the box with the bases loaded. His fly to centre field was deep enough for Jang to score from third the winning run.