The bench put endless faith and trust in the No. 4 hitter, but there was no ‘reciprocation’.
The South Korean baseball team, led by Ryu Jung-il, hung its head in shame at 0-4 against Chinese Taipei in their Group B match at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games at the Xiaoxing Baseball and Softball Center 1 Baseball Field in Xiaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China on Tuesday.
Korea’s starting lineup consisted of Kim Hye-sung (second base), Choi Ji-hoon (center field), Noh Si-hwan (third base), Kang Baek-ho (designated hitter), Moon Bo-kyung (first base), Yoon Dong-hee (right field), Park Sung-sung (shortstop), Kim Hyung-joon (catcher), Kim Sung-yoon (left field), and Moon Dong-joo (starting pitcher).
The key player against Taiwan was Kang Baek-ho.
The day before, he struck out three times against Hong Kong and didn’t have much of a batting performance.
Still, South Korea pushed Kang to bat fourth against Taiwan.
They hoped that he would regain his reputation as a “genius hitter” against Chinese Taipei.
But the results were disastrous. Kang went hitless in four at-bats in the No. 4 spot. Even in crucial chances, he was consistent with his ‘water bat’.
The nightmare started in the top of the first inning.
Two batters later, Noh Si-hwan singled, but Kang Baek-ho could only hit a ground ball in front of the pitcher.
In the end, Korea scored the first run in the top of the first inning, giving their opponents the lead.
It happened again in the top of the third.
Choi Ji-hoon led off with an infield single, but with runners on first and second, Kang Baek-ho struck out to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, with South Korea trailing 0-2, Choi led off with a single, but the next batter grounded out to the third baseman.
Korea has been known for its “promised eighth inning,” but it didn’t materialize in this tournament.
With two outs in the top of the eighth, Noh Si-hwan finally had a chance to score with a double to center, but Kang Baek-ho threw cold water on the play by hitting a grounder to the shortstop. 카지노사이트
After being thrown out at first base, Kang took off his helmet in self-pity, but the bus had already passed.
South Korea ended up losing 0-4. Kang Baek-ho has yet to record a hit in the tournament.
After eight at-bats without a hit, his batting average is “zero.
It was a shocking defeat for South Korea, who were optimistic of winning their fourth consecutive Asian Games after the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, 2014 Incheon Asian Games, and 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games.
At this rate, it’s hard to say what the future holds.
Without a wake-up call from No. 4 hitter Kang Baek-ho, who is supposed to be the centerpiece of the team’s offense, it will be difficult for South Korea to turn things around.