How did Korea finish against Sangmu in the Nagoya tune-up game?

Korea beat Sangmu 7-6 after trailing 6-3 entering the eighth inning. The team scored four runs in that frame, helped by hits from Park Jun-soon and Kim Gun-hee.

Which pitchers struggled in Korea's scrimmage against Sangmu?

Left-handers Oh Won-seok and Bae Chan-seung had difficult outings. Oh gave up four hits and two runs in one inning, while Bae allowed four runs on five hits and retired only one batter.

When does Korea start the Asian Games baseball competition in Nagoya?

The team is scheduled to leave for Nagoya on Friday and open the competition on Monday at 6:30 p.m. against Chinese Taipei. That opener is viewed as Korea's biggest early threat in its bid for a fifth straight gold medal.

Nat'l baseball team squeezes past minor league club in scrimmage

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Summary

Korea beat the military club Sangmu 7-6 in an unofficial eight-inning scrimmage at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Thursday. The Asian Games-bound national baseball team trailed 6-3 entering the eighth inning before scoring four runs to pull ahead. Manager Ryu Ji-hyun used eight of his 11 pitchers, and three starters did not appear. The team is scheduled to leave for Nagoya on Friday and open against Chinese Taipei on Monday.

Key Facts

The game was an unofficial eight-inning scrimmage at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.
Manager Ryu Ji-hyun sent eight of his 11 pitchers to the mound, each throwing around 30 pitches.
Three starters, Gwak Been, Choi Min-seok and So Hyeong-jun, did not see action.
The national team was scheduled to leave for Nagoya on Friday and begin the competition on Monday with a 6:30 p.m. game against Chinese Taipei.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 17, 2026 8:42 pm KST

Korean reliever Park Yeong-hyun pitches against Sangmu during a scrimmage ahead of the Asian Games baseball tournament at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

NAGOYA, Japan — The Asian Games-bound national baseball team narrowly avoided a loss to a minor league club in a scrimmage in Seoul on Thursday.

Managed by Ryu Ji-hyun, Korea beat the military club Sangmu 7-6 in an unofficial, eight-inning game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul.

The national team is made up of stars from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO). Sangmu plays in the second-tier Futures League.

Manager Ryu sent eight of his 11 pitchers to the mound, each throwing around 30 pitches. Three starters, Gwak Been, Choi Min-seok and So Hyeong-jun, did not see action.

Two left-handers struggled, with Oh Won-seok giving up four hits and two runs in one inning, while Bae Chan-seung surrendered four runs on five hits while retiring just one batter.

On the other hand, six other pitchers all put up zeroes on the board.

Korea trailed 6-3 entering the eighth inning, and it had runners at first and second to simulate an extra-inning situation at the Asian Games.

From there, Korea scored four runs, thanks to hits by Park Jun-soon and Kim Gun-hee.

The national team is scheduled to leave for Nagoya on Friday and start the competition on Monday with a 6:30 p.m. game against Chinese Taipei, considered the biggest threat to Korea's quest for its fifth consecutive gold medal.

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