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Fans watching the game could not relax until the final minute as the Korean team missed many opportunities to score. Except for the seventh and ninth innings, the Korean team scored only twice even though it batted in past second base in every other innings. While a runner was on second base with two outs in the fourth innings, catcher Hong Sung-heon pulled a grounder past third base, helping the team win one score. Lee Jong-bum, too, contributed to winning one score in the fifth innings. The team, however, lost its chance to score in the sixth and eighth innings and suffered torments when Taiwan caught up close behind.

The final out in Korea's 2-0 victory over Taiwan came when shortstop Park Jin-man volleyed a ball hit by Chan Chih-yao out at second base. “I took a step forward just a little because I made up my mind to dive to catch a ball no matter what,” Park said. “I didn’t know I caught the ball in my glove. I felt so good.”

Korean team starter Seo struck out three in 3 2/3 innings, starting into a 3.2 scoreless innings, followed by Kim (1.2 innings, one hit) and Koo (0.2 inning, no hit) who combined to pitch 2.1 innings. Park Chan-ho sealed the victory with three strike-outs during the last three scoreless innings. In particular, Park pitched balls as fast as up to 147 km/h, shutting out the Taiwanese team in the seventh and eighth innings, demonstrating his excellence as a Major League player who led his team to 106 victories.

Japanese team manager Sadaharu Oh, who watched the game, admitted Korean pitchers “are very competitive.” Taiwanese team manager Lin Hua Wei also said the Major Leaguers were “brilliant.” “I’m not sure whether we would have been able to win if those Major League players had not taken part in the game,” Korean manager Kim In-sik said. “We could have had it easier if we hadn’t miss chances to score in the first several innings.”

(englishnews@chosun.com )