The 2023 2nd Asian Professional Baseball Championship came to the last day today (19th). The championship battle was staged between Japan and South Korea. The two teams also fought fiercely. Although South Korea scored first, Japan showed resilience to equalize and finally became regular. After the game, the game was tied at 2-2 and entered extension. South Korea scored first in the 10th overtime, but in the second half of the inning, Japan relied on Sakakura Shogo’s sacrifice fly and Kadowaki Makoto’s three-game walk-off hit. In the end, Japan lost 4-3 and South Korea won its second consecutive championship.
In the first inning, both sides scored 1 hit each but did not continue the offensive. In the 2nd, South Korea took first and second base after 2 outs. However, Choi Ji-hoon hit a fly ball and was caught. In the second half of the inning, Japan had a chance to score. With 1 out and 2nd base, The runner became 2 outs with the bases loaded, but there was no timely hit, and the score was still 0-0.
Advertisement (Please continue reading this article)
However, the situation changed at 3rd. After Kim Hye-sung took the lead in getting a walk at the beginning, Kim Soo-yong’s hit caused an error, leaving no one out on first and second base. After 1 out, Korean professional RBI king Lu Shifeng hit a long hit to left-center field. A bases clearing shot gave South Korea a 2-point lead.
After Japan swallowed 4 0s, they finally relied on Maki Hidego to break the duck egg in the 5th time and chased 1-2. Then, in the 6th time, Wanbo Zhongzheng hit the bases at the beginning, and relied on the push to third base to score. At the gate, the next bat Teruaki Sato sent the ball to the outfield to form a high-flying sacrifice hit, helping Japan equalize the game.
The two teams were tied and could not break through the deadlock until the end of the regular 9th inning, and the game also entered an overtime to break the deadlock. In the 10th overtime, Japanese pitcher Kojiro Yoshimura allowed a double play by Kim Soi-yung first, but Yoon Ro-hee hit a hit with an RBI to break the deadlock.
Advertisement (Please continue reading this article)
However, Japan immediately launched a counterattack in the second half of the inning. After first advancing with a touch hit, Maki Hidego, who had a home run today, was far away. In the next at bat, Sakakura hit a deep fly ball into center field, resulting in a high-flying sacrifice fly to tie the game. At this time, he chose to catch Kadowaki Makoto again, but he hit a hit in three games. Japan finally used this 1 point to defeat South Korea and win the AFC Champions League for the second consecutive time.
Video Sports Channel 2023-24 NBA American Professional Basketball Series – Schedule and Broadcast List
