Mar 24 2009
Japan - Korea WBC Championship - A Game for the Ages
You couldn’t have asked for much more as a baseball fan Monday night as Korea and Japan played to an incredible 3-3 tie after 9 innings. Starters Iwakuma and Bong were outstanding, Iwakuma went 7 2/3 IP allowing just two runs while Bong labored but allowed just one unearned run in four innings.
The defense was outstanding as Korea danced around several jams including an incredible game from the shortstop pictured above.
Bum Ho Lee came up big for Korea in the bottom of the ninth after Yu Darvish struck out two. He hit a sharp ground ball through the left side to tie it and send the game to extra innings.
Ichiro quickly answered back with a 9 pitch at bat that resulted in a two run double in the top of the tenth. He fouled off some tough pitches including a 95 mph sidearm fastball and an offspeed pitch that bounced before he was able to foul it off.
Darvish walked the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the tenth and struck out the next man. He then got a popup and struck out the final hitter to end it. Darvish hit 95 mph with the fastball and was throwing a devastating slider.
An incredible game by both teams, one with intensity that matched any game at the major league level.
