TOKYO — At a sold out 40,000-seat Tokyo Dome, the world No. 8 South Korea National Team scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to rally past host and top-ranked Japan in the semifinals of the inaugural WBSC Premier12 global baseball championship.
Following a dominating performance by Samurai Japan starter Shohei Ohtani (7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 11 K), South Korea attacked Japan’s bullpen in the 9th inning. Ohtani took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, before South Korea’s Keunwoo Jeong belted a line drive to the center field.
Trailing 3-0, South Korea manager Kim In Sik opted to go with pinch hitters to start the ninth inning, and they delivered with back-to-back hits off Japan relief pitcher Takahiro Norimoto. Leadoff hitter Keunwoo Jeong then hit an RBI double to collect South Korea’s first run of the game — and in the tournament versus Japan.
Following a hit batsman that loaded the bases, Japan manager Hiroki Kokubo brought in pitcher lefty Yuki Matsui, who issued a walk to the only batter he faced to grant South Korea its second run of the game.
South Korea slugger Dae-ho Lee then hit a 2-run single off the third pitcher of the inning, Hirotoshi Masui, pushing South Korea over Japan, 4-3.
South Korea will play the winner of the Mexico-USA semifinal Friday night, while Japan will meet the loser in the bronze medal game.
