«Como en este juego no hay nada escrito, los muchachos vinieron de atrás, cogieron por los turnos, disputaron por este pase y por este resultado», explained Juan Igor González.
Puerto Rico rallied past South Korea in extra innings at Roberto Clemente Stadium in Masaya. The dramatic win required resilience as the team fought back from late deficits during the U-23 Baseball World Cup super round.
The Asian side applied intense pressure during the extra frame. Wonjun Leen drove in two runs with a double, putting Puerto Rico on the verge of defeat in Nicaragua.
That surge left the Caribbean squad trailing once again. South Korea held a narrow advantage as the game pushed into its most volatile phase.
Elfred George answered with a clutch double that tied the score and breathed new life into the dugout. That hit reset the pressure on the opposing pitchers.
Josnel Ortiz then stepped up to the plate. The Yabucoa-born left-handed hitter, trained at the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and playing for Vernon College, had struggled through his first two at-bats.
Ortiz connected on a bases-clearing single that drove in the winning runs. The hit sparked wild celebrations on the field as teammates swarmed the young outfielder.
«Fue un juego emocionante en el final», González told Noticias Prensa Latina after the final out. The victory brought Puerto Rico’s super-round record to two wins and three losses.
The squad now awaits final positioning to see if they will compete for the bronze medal. South Korea finished the super round winless across five contests.
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