Son Ju-young of Korea pitches against Japan during the teams' Pool C game at the World Baseball Classic in Tokyo, Saturday. Yonhap
Left-hander Son Ju-young's first World Baseball Classic (WBC) start will come in a do-or-die game for Korea on Monday.
Moments after Korea's 5-4 loss to Chinese Taipei at Tokyo Dome, manager Ryu Ji-hyun announced the LG Twins pitcher as his starter against Australia in the teams' final Pool C contest at 7 p.m. Monday.
The extra-inning loss to Chinese Taipei dropped Korea's record to 1-2. With the top two teams advancing to the quarterfinals, Japan has already booked a spot with two straight wins over Chinese Taipei and Korea. Australia, too, has won two straight games and will take on Japan later Sunday.
If Australia wins that game, then Australia will join Japan in the quarterfinals and eliminate Korea. If Australia loses Sunday night, then Korea and Australia will try to grab the ticket to Miami for the knockout games in Monday's showdown.
Korea must win by at least five runs and allow two or fewer runs in a nine-inning game to advance in a tiebreaking scenario.
Son, who said he'd been told of his assignment Saturday, said he was ready to take the ball in such a high-pressure situation. He also volunteered to work one inning during Saturday's game against Japan to get himself into a game situation first.
"Honestly, I didn't think I was going to face Australia. I'd been preparing for Chinese Taipei," Son said. "But physically, I feel great. I am ready to go.
"I know I have to give my best effort and not give up big balls," he added. "I have to be really sharp with my pitches."
Son admitted he was already feeling some pressure to keep Australia at bay, with the team from Down Under having gone deep four times in two games, but he's grown accustomed to these games while pitching for the Twins in the Korea Baseball Organization.
Source: Korea Times News
