U-23 Baseball World Cup Day 10: East Asian rivals Japan and Korea set up final, Mexico and Chinese Taipei play for bronze
Japan relied on starter Raiku Katayama, who allowed Mexico only one walk over five innings. They took the lead in the bottom of the second and never looked back. Korea tied the game against Colombia in the bottom of the seventh and won it in the eighth as Seunghwan Song slid head-first to beat the throw to first, which would have completed an inning-ending double play. Australia beat Chinese Taipei in the final game of the Super Round. The hosts will play Mexico for the bronze medal
Japan joined Korea in the IV WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup final. They defeated Mexico in what had become a one-game playoff.
Japan won the inaugural U-23 Baseball World Cup in 2016. They lost the final of the second edition against Mexico in 2018 and were runners-up in the first and only U-21 Baseball World Cup, losing the final to Chinese Taipei.
Korea clinched their spot through a dramatic comeback win against Colombia and will play in the U-23 Baseball World Cup final for the first time. They earned a bronze medal in the first edition in 2016 and lost the third-place game to Venezuela in 2018 and won bronze in the first and only U-21 Baseball World Cup.
The World Championship final of the IV U-23 Baseball World Cup is scheduled on Sunday, 23 October, at 19:00 local time.
Australia beat Chinese Taipei in the final game of the Super Round, earning their first win.
Chinese Taipei will face Mexico in the third-place game on Sunday, 23 October, at 14:30 local time.
Japan played solid baseball behind masterful starter Raiku Katayama, who allowed only one walk over five innings. Working with a 4-0 lead, reliever Ryutaro Sawayanagi allowed two runs over the final two innings. Japan will play in their third U-23 Baseball World Cup final.
Japan scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the second on a base hit by Keito Saida
Japan opened the score in the bottom of the third against reliever Jose Reyes. Hiroki Nakagawa opened with a double Yuto Hirano, Kanta Aiba, and Kaito Saida added singles, while Jin Nakamura produced with a sacrifice fly.
Mexico ticked a point on the board in the top of the sixth, when reliever Ryutaro Sawayanagi allowed a lead off triple to Angel Camacho and gave up three walks to send him home.
Mexico added a run in the top of the seventh on a double by José Zepeda.
Korea tied the game in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out RBI double by catcher Seongbin Son. Lee Junho pitched a scoreless top of the eighth, and Seunghwan Song slid head-first to beat Branlyn Jaraba's throw to first and allow Hanbyul Kim to score the winning run in the bottom of the eighth. They will face the Mexico-Japan winner in the World Championship final.
Colombia got to submarine starter Unhyun Noh with a double by Carlos Arroyo and a bloop single by Jair Camargo in the top of the first.
Left fielder Jorge Puerta homered with one out in the top of the fourth to make it 2-0 for Colombia.
Korea got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double by Donghee Yoon.
Sejin Cho doubled along the third base line to tie the game.
Taeyang Han followed with a triple and put Korea ahead.
In the top of the fifth Colombia tied it on back-to-back singles by Bryan Buelvas and Carlos Arroyo against reliever Seungiu Han.
The inning ended as Jair Camargo lined into a double play.
Carlos Arroyo doubled in the top of the seventh to score Hector Martinez from first and give Colombia a new lead. It was his fourth hit of the day.
Trying to advance the runners on a sacrifice, Korea bunted into a double play in the bottom of the seventh.
Catcher Seongbin Son hit a two-out RBI double to send the game to extra innings.
Seunghwan Song reached sliding head-first into first base to allow lead tie-break runner Hanbyul Kim to score the run that took Korea to the World Championship final.
The two teams combined three hits, and Australia didn't need any to score the first two runs. The game wouldn't change the outcome of the Super Round. Chinese Taipei will compete in the third-place game, and Australia will finish sixth.
Australia wasted no time in taking the lead. The Australians took advantage of Chinese Taipei starter Chen Wei Lin's control issues.
Australia added a run on a double by designated hitter Mitchell Edwards off Yan Cheng Wang in the top of the fifth.
