South Korean starter So Hyeong-jun pitches against Czechia during the teams' Pool C game at the World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Thursday. Yonhap
TOKYO — Given plenty of early run support, South Korean pitchers were far from spectacular in their team's big win over Czechia to start the World Baseball Classic (WBC) on Thursday.
Starter So Hyeong-jun gave South Korea three shutout innings while scattering four hits at Tokyo Dome, but the six relievers that followed him had up-and-down performances in what ended up being an 11-4 win.
The lopsided score, made possible by four home runs from the explosive lineup, covered up some of the pitching issues that could be further exposed against stronger opponents later in the tournament.
Before the game, manager Ryu Ji-hyun had said he would keep So under 50 pitches. During the first round, pitchers who throw at least 50 pitches in a game must sit out for a minimum four days, while those who toss 30 or more pitches must rest for one day.
So covered his three innings in 42 pitches and since South Korea is off Friday, the right-hander will be available again starting with Saturday's game against Japan.
So was far from his sharp, groundball-inducing self, though. He allowed a hit in each of his three innings and had to wiggle his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the second inning after Moon Bo-gyeong's grand slam had staked him to a 4-0 lead in the bottom first.
So, consistently among the top groundball pitchers in the Korea Baseball Organization, induced only two groundouts, though both were double play balls.
So said afterward he was surprised with how well Czechia hitters attacked his signature two-seam fastball.
"I had to really focus on how to get after those hitters in different situations," he said. "At least we got the win here and I am glad we will be able to build on this positive momentum."
Source: Korea Times News
