The South Korean national baseball team suffered a 9-5 defeat against Japan on Wednesday at the Tokyo Dome, extending their losing streak in head-to-head international matchups to 12 games.
The team now faces an increasingly difficult path to reach the 2026 Asia Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) final after falling to a 0-2 record in the qualifying round.
The loss follows a narrow 8-7 defeat to Australia on Tuesday, leaving South Korea’s tournament prospects in doubt.
Since a 4-3 victory in the 2015 WBSC Premier12 semifinals, South Korea has failed to beat Japan in any international competition featuring professional players, a trend that encompasses every tournament since the APBC was inaugurated in 2017.
Han Dong-hee and Kim Hwi-jip hit home runs
South Korea opened the scoring in the third inning when Han Dong-hee hit a solo home run over the right-field wall, traveling 110 meters. However, Japan responded in the bottom of the frame, taking a lead they would not relinquish. Masaki Tomoya hit a two-run homer, part of a rally that helped Japan take the lead. South Korea’s offense attempted to rally in the eighth inning.
After a defensive choice by Japan’s infield put runners on first and second with no outs, Han drove in a run with a single to right-center. Kim Hwi-jip followed with a 120-meter, three-run home run to tie the game.
The tie was short-lived, as Japan regained control in the bottom of the eighth. Despite a final effort in the ninth inning, South Korea failed to score again, finalizing the 9-5 result.
Kim Jin-wook starts while the bullpen struggles
Starting pitcher Kim Jin-wook threw 80 pitches over five innings, allowing four hits, one home run, and two earned runs while striking out four. The bullpen struggled to contain the Japanese lineup in the later stages of the game. Jeon Jun-pyo allowed one run in an inning of work, while Park Si-won conceded two runs without recording an out. Kim Young-woo allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning, and Lee Jun-hyuk surrendered one run in the final frame.
The tournament features strict roster limitations, with eligibility restricted to players under 24 years old or those with less than three years of professional experience. Teams are permitted up to three wild-card roster spots for players under 29. South Korea, which finished as the runner-up in both 2017 and 2023, entered this tournament aiming to develop young talent while pursuing their first APBC title.
Next steps in the qualifying round
South Korea is scheduled to play its final qualifying game against Taiwan on Thursday, November 14. The results of that match will determine whether the team advances to the final or the third-place game, both of which are slated for November 15.
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