Kim Do-young Delivers Game-Winning Hit in 'Promised 8th Inning'… S. Korea Wins 5th Straight Baseball Gold

[Anchor]

The South Korean national baseball team has defeated Japan to claim the top spot at the Asian Games, achieving the remarkable feat of winning five consecutive championships.

Jeon Yeongmin reports from the scene.

[Reporter]

The national team, which suffered a painful shutout loss to Japan three days ago, took an early lead yesterday (September 27).

In the second inning, after Yoon Dong-hee hit a double off the fence, Moon Hyun-bin drove in an RBI single to take a 1:0 lead.

However, the team failed to secure additional runs as they repeatedly hit into routine plays with runners in scoring position on multiple occasions, eventually allowing a tie late in the game.

Ace Kwak Bin, who pitched brilliantly and scoreless through six innings despite the harsh weather, took the mound again in the 7th inning, but gave up an RBI single on his 111th pitch, allowing the tying run.

However, the national team did not miss out on the ensuing promised 8th inning.

Star player Kim Do-young hit a sharp grounder toward third base with two outs and runners on first and third in the bottom of the 8th, and when the third baseman failed to field it, it resulted in the game-winning RBI.

Extending their lead by two runs with Moon Bo-gyeong's clutch center-field RBI single, the national team completed a 3:1 victory as Cho Byeong-hyun and Park Young-hyun, who followed Kwak Bin on the mound, maintained the lead without allowing a run.

Embracing and cheering for one another, the players stood on the highest tier of the podium, wore their gold medals, and relished the joy of victory.

[Ryu Ji-hyun / National Baseball Team Manager: I felt once again that the path to the gold medal was not easy, and I want to praise our players immensely for doing such a great job.]

Achieving the nation's first-ever 5th consecutive Asian Games title since the 2010 Guangzhou Games, the national team will return home today and rejoin their respective clubs.

(Camera footage by Yang Doo-won | Video editing by Park Gi-deok)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.