Saangyung Lee's impressive seven-inning effort leads Korean win in extras over Mexico

Saangyung Lee's impressive seven-inning effort leads Korean win in extras over Mexico
19/10/2022
The left-hander used 89 pitches and 62 strikes to get 21 outs. He allowed only five hits and no walk. Former WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup star Donghyun Sung took care of the final three. Korea finished the opening round undefeated.

The IV WBSC U-23 Baseball World Cup has displayed a lot of good pitching, but Saangyung Lee's gem of an outing against Mexico on Wednesday deserved to be in the books. The left-hander used 89 pitches, 62 for strikes, limiting Mexico to five hits and did not allow a walk.

Hard-throwing right-hander Donghyun Sung, a highly touted prospect for the LG Twins of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) league and a former star at the WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup 2017, took care of the final three outs. Korea beat Mexico, 1-0, to finish Group B in the opening round undefeated.

Mexico's pitchers have fared well against their Asian rivals, as starter Fernando Sanchez, a San Diego Padres prospect, posted five brilliant innings, allowing only one hit and one walk.

However, the Mexican bullpen showed less control and allowed three walks in the final three innings, allowing more runners from the opposing side to create opportunities and lean on their running game.

Korea scored the only run of the game in the top of the eight. Reliever Manuel Castro tried to pick pinch runner Taehyun Kim, the lead tie-break runner, off second base, but his throw went away from the bag, allowing Ko to reach third base.

As star second baseman Sunghyeok Yang struck out swinging, the second tie-break runner, Taeyang Han, stole second. Kim scored from third the winning run.

Donghyun Sung had a fastball that sits at 150 kilometres (or 93.75 miles) per hour. He didn't try to overpower Mexico and worked a quick eight-pitch inning to retire the side.

Korea finished the opening round undefeated and will start the Super Round with a 2-0 record.