Kang Baek-ho, Choi Jeong’s home run… WBC national team wins first practice match against NC
The 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC) Korean national team finished their first real game in a good mood.
On the 17th (Korean time), the baseball team won 8-2 in the first practice game against the NC Dinos at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in Kino Sports Complex, Tucson, Arizona, USA. Kang Baek-ho (kt Wiz) fired a two-run shot in the second inning, and Choi Jeong (SSG Landers) scored a solo shot in the third. The national team was convened for the first time on the 15th and started playing in two days.
In the game, which lasted 7 innings바카라사이트, 7 pitchers of the national team were responsible for one inning each. It was to check the condition of the pitchers. Following Kim Gwang-hyun (SSG, 2 hits, 2 strikeouts, no runs), Ko Young-pyo (kt, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts, no runs), Jung Cheol-won (Doosan Bears, 1 hit, 1 strikeout, no run), Won Tae-in (Samsung Lions, 1 hit, 2 strikeouts, 1 walk, no run) , Jung Woo-young (LG Twins, 2 hits, 1 walk, 2 runs, no earned run), Lee Eui-ri (1 strikeout, 1 walk, no runs, KIA Tigers), and Ko Woo-seok (LG, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 run, no runs) threw in turn.
Coach Lee Kang-cheol said after the game, “I am satisfied with the overall content of the game. It is like the national team,” he said. “It was good overall even though it was the first game. The condition of the pitchers needs to improve a little more, but the fielders have built their bodies better than expected.” He also said that it would be necessary for pitchers to adapt to the competition’s official ball. Director Lee said, “Pitchers who have thrown official pitches have said that two-seam fastballs fall well, but sliders fall easily. Kim Gwang-hyun explained that the fastball was bent like a cut fastball, and the changeup was also missing from his hand.”
The national team will have its second practice game against Kia on the 20th. On this day, the game is played in 9 innings, and the pitcher who did not pitch in the NC game goes on the mound. Manager Lee Kang-cheol said, “There will be pitchers who throw 2 innings in 1⅔ innings depending on the condition.”
The batting line, with Lee Jeong-hoo (Kiwoom Heroes) number 1 and Park Byeong-ho (kt) number 4, proved that their condition improved by pulling out 14 hits. Kang Baek-ho, in the 7th batting order, went 4 at-bats, 2 hits, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored. Park Hae-min (LG), who played as a pinch hitter in the 4th inning instead of Lee Jung-hoo, recorded 2 hits, 1 RBI and 1 run in 3 at-bats. Park Byeong-ho also made multiple hits (2 hits in 3 at-bats).