S. Korea Beats Japan 5-3 in Baseball

Reliever Chong Tae-hyon Saturday put out a last-minute rally by Japan to propel South Korea to a 5-3 victory, its third straight win, in the baseball tournament of the Beijing Olympics.

After a tight 2-2 standoff that lasted until the close of the eighth inning, South Korea rallied in the top of the ninth to score three more runs and gain a fresh lead over Japan.

Japan added a run in the bottom of the final inning and succeeded in putting runners on the third and second bases with two outs. But pinch-hitter Masahiko Morino ground out to third, bringing the game at Wukesong Baseball Field to a close.

Designated hitter Lee Dae-ho hit a two-run homer for South Korea in the seventh inning, while Japanese first baseman Takahir Arai scored a two-run home run in the sixth.

South Korea will face China Sunday evening, resuming a match that was suspended Thursday due to heavy rain.

Eight teams are competing in the preliminary stage of the Aug. 8-24 Olympics, and half of them will be allowed to enter the semifinals scheduled to begin on Aug. 22

South Korea won the bronze medal in baseball at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, but did not qualify for the Games in Athens in 2004.

Baseball will be eliminated from the Olympics after the Beijing Games.

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