“I felt scared of Korea, my mistake for not being prepared” Japan coach Ibata says he won but ‘recognizes Korea’
“I felt the fear of Korea.”
South Korea lost a heartbreaking game against Japan at the Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) 2023.
Despite playing an evenly matched game, they fell just one run short.
Japan’s head coach Hirokazu Ibata, 48, also recognized Korea.
Korea lost 1-2 to Japan in the second game of the APBC 2023 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday.
It was a disappointing defeat.
In terms of the game, Japan was outplayed.
However, the mound held up until the end.
Lee Yi-ri pitched 6 innings of 2-run QS.
He was shaky, but he didn’t collapse.
South Korea and Japan play in the second game of the Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) Qualifier at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday.
Oh Won-seok came on in the seventh and pitched one inning of one-hit ball, striking out one.
In the eighth, Choi Jun-yong pitched one inning of two-hit ball, striking out two.
Relatively speaking, the batting lineup was disappointing.
They were completely dominated by Chihiro Sumida.
He threw seven scoreless innings.
He only threw 77 pitches.
The second pitcher, Rikuto Yokoyama, threw one scoreless inning.
The only saving grace was Kim’s solo shot off Kazuto Taguchi.
As a team, Kim Hye-sung had two hits and Kim Hwijip had one hit and one RBI.
On the other end of the spectrum.
South Korea and Japan during the second game of the Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) qualifying round at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday.
After the game, Ibata said, “I expected it to be a close game.
It was a patient game.
Sumida threw a good ball.
I was relieved too.
I was able to get strikes on any ball.
I couldn’t have asked for a better pitching performance.
I’m grateful.”
After the interview, he shook Sumida’s hand.
He also talked about Korea.
“Korea was strong, including the starting pitcher, Lee Iri.
You could feel their fear.
The Korean fans were very supportive, and we threw good pitches.
I think it was a victory for our pitchers,” he explained.