Tokyo: Reduced to tears of joy after South Korea clinched a knockout spot at the World Baseball Classic in dramatic fashion Monday night, manager Ryu Ji-hyun called it "the game of my life." Ryu's South Korea beat Australia 7-2 in the teams' final Pool C game at Tokyo Dome to punch its ticket to Miami for the quarterfinals. South Korea had to win by at least five runs and also hold Australia to two runs or fewer, and South Korea did exactly that with no room to spare. With that, South Korea made it out of the opening round for the first time since 2009.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Ryu expressed the challenges faced during the round, as his team had previously lost to Japan and Chinese Taipei. "This has been such a difficult round," Ryu stated. "But our players all brought the right attitude to this tournament and they were truly committed. That's why we were able to accomplish this great result." South Korea scored twice in the top of the second inning and added two more in the top third, which helped maintain composure throughout the game.
The pressure was on as South Korea had to defend its lead after Australia cut the score to 6-2 in the bottom eighth. Ahn Hyun-min's sacrifice fly in the top ninth was pivotal, with Ryu describing it as the moment "our prayers were answered." He emphasized the significance of the win, referring to it as "the game of my life" and the most important game of his baseball career.
The team's pitching staff, which had struggled throughout the tournament, played a crucial role in the victory. Ryu credited a trio of young relievers, Park Yeong-hyun, Kim Taek-yeon, and Jo Byeong-hyeon, for their steady performance in the late innings. Veteran Noh Kyung-eun, nearing his 42nd birthday, also delivered two shutout innings in relief of starter Son Ju-young, who left the game with elbow discomfort. "I have so much admiration for Noh Kyung-eun and what he did today," Ryu noted.
With the victory, South Korea advances to the quarterfinals in Miami. As the runner-up in Pool C, Ryu's team will face the winner of Pool D, likely either the Dominican Republic or Venezuela. When asked about his approach to the new round, Ryu said, "I just want to rest today. I will start thinking about that tomorrow."