By The Korean team reacts after losing 4-3 to Japan in the final of the Asian Professional Baseball Championship at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on Sunday. [YONHAP]
Korea lost 4-3 to Japan in the final of the Asian Professional Baseball Championship on Sunday, falling behind in extra innings to finish in second place at the U-24 tournament.
Japan scored twice at the bottom of the tenth for the walk-off win, coming from behind to take the title for the second consecutive tournament.
Korea held their own against Samurai Japan, scoring two in the third when Roh Si-hwan hit a double with two runners on deck. Japan chipped away at that lead with runs in the fifth and sixth, tying things up at 2-2 over the regulation nine innings.
Korea pulled ahead again in the 10th inning on a Yoon Dong-hee single with a runner at third, but Japan were able to cancel out that lead and add a game-winning run at the bottom of the inning.
Chinese Taipei earlier beat Australia to take third place in the four-team tournament.
Japan advanced to the final after winning all of their preliminary stage games. Korea joined them there on a 2-1 line, having 2-1 Japan in the early going, but beaten Australia 3-2 and Chinese Taipei 6-1.
The 2023 tournament was the second edition of the Asian Professional Baseball Championship.
Japan won the 2017 tournament after beating Korea 7-0 in the final, with Chinese Taipei taking third. Australia did not compete at the inaugural tournament.
The 2021 tournament was canceled due to Covid-19.
BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]
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