Toyohashi:South Korea claimed its fifth straight Asian Games gold medal in baseball with a 3-1 win over Japan at Toyohashi Municipal Baseball Stadium on Sunday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, starter Gwak Been pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing just one run while striking out nine batters. South Korea, whose offense had been dormant, came alive in the eighth inning with Kim Do-yeong hitting an infield single to break a 1-1 tie. Moon Bo-gyeong added an insurance run with another single.
The victory was a redemption for South Korea, which had lost 5-0 to Japan in the Super Round on Friday. Japan's pitcher Shin Higuchi, who had previously stifled South Korea's offense, started again on short rest but South Korea managed to pressure him early in the game.
South Korea initially took a 1-0 lead in the second inning after Yoon Dong-hees double and Moon Hyun-bins single. Although they missed several scoring opportunities, they held Japan hitless for the first four innings and overcame a seventh-inning challenge when Japan tied the game.
In the eighth inning, South Korea regained control with a strategic offensive, and relievers Jo Byeong-hyeon and Park Yeong-hyun effectively closed out the game, ensuring the gold medal.