Korea’s WBC ends at hands of dominant Dominican Republic after turbulent ride to Miami

The Korean baseball team huddles before a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal game against the Dominican Republic at LoanDepot Park in Miami on March 13. [YONHAP]

Korea’s World Baseball Classic (WBC) hopes came crashing down in spectacular fashion in Miami on Friday night with a 10-0 demolition by the Dominican Republic.

 

Korea came into the game after escaping pool play by the skin of its teeth, and was hoping that the quarterfinal at LoanDepot Park would be a chance for the team to cut its teeth for a deep run.

 


The Dominican Republic, though, would prove to be a formidable — and ultimately insurmountable — challenge, riding high into the knockout stage after absolutely running riot through Pool D.

 

Korea started with MLB veteran Ryu Hyun-jin on the mound at the top of the first, set to face off a batting rotation all coming from the major leagues, and all with at least 20 home runs last year.

 

Pitcher Ryu Hyun-jin walks off the mound after giving up three runs in the bottom of the second inning of a game against the Dominican Republic in Miami on March 13. [YONHAP]

 

After holding on to a 0-0 scoreline in the first, things began to fall apart, with three runs conceded in the second and four more in the third.

 

As the runs came in, manager Ryu Ji-hyun went into micromanaging mode, rotating through 4 pitchers in the second inning alone.

 

Korea was in danger of being mercy-killed: A lead of 10 runs at the end of the seventh would result in an early termination of the game.

 

No doubt, then pitcher Jun So Hyeong-jun, Korea’s ninth of the game, was feeling the heat. A strikeout, walk, walk and then force out set up Austin Wells to step into the batter’s box with two on and two out.

 

He proceeded to smash it high into the right-hand stands, bringing the curtain down on Korea’s WBC hopes of redemption after reaching the knockout stage for the first time in 17 years.

 

The Korean team bows to fans after a 10-0 loss to the Dominican Republic in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic in Miami on March 13. [YONHAP]

Shay Whitcomb does the “airplane” celebration after bagging a double against Australia in Korea’s final pool game of the World Baseball Classic in Tokyo on March 9. [YONHAP]

 

Just to be in the knockout stage could be considered an achievement. Well aware of the history, the team worked toward one goal: Catch a flight to Miami. They even came up with a celebration — that many on the team thought was cheesy, at first, before it took on serious symbolism — arms outstretched like an airplane, a visual demonstration of desire to hit the ball out of the park until the team could hit the skies bound for the quarterfinals.

 

The journey out of pool play wasn’t exactly smooth sailing, with a comfortable 11-4 win over the Czech Republic followed by an 8-6 nailbiter of a loss to Japan. A surprise came in the third game, with a 5-4 defeat to Chinese Taipei in extra innings setting the stage for a do-or-die showdown with Australia that hinged on run calculus to sort out a three-way tie with the upsetters and the boys from Down Under.

 

Kim Do-yeong flips his bat after belting a two-run home run against Japan at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 8. [NEWSIS]

 

Korea played comfortably, but the team could rack up run after run and it wouldn’t matter after a five-run lead. It was all about defense against Australia, which just needed to score three to advance.

 

Korea had a 6-1 lead by the end of the seventh, good enough to punch a ticket to Miami. But Australia threatened to ground the Korean team’s dreams of flying to Miami with a run in the eighth. A clutch run on an Ahn Hyun-min sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth and a lucky in-field fly for a third out in the bottom of the inning incited a joyous bench-clearing as the players celebrated.

 

Kim Do-yeong celebrates as he heads to first off a hit that secured an RBI against Australia in Tokyo on March 9. [YONHAP]

Pitcher Dane Dunning celebrates after closing out the bottom of the seventh inning without conceding a run against Australia in Tokyo on March 9. [YONHAP]

 

That would be the last time Korea would have any cause for celebration in the tournament, as its final game ended without a single run. The trip to Miami was short, and certainly not sweet, but at least the “airplane” celebration didn’t crash and burn.

 

The Korean team celebrates after securing a spot in the knockout stage of the World Baseball Classic with a 7-2 win over Australia in Tokyo ono March 9. [YONHAP]

 

Still, the tournament can’t be considered a total failure for Korea, which has never won it and only finished as runner-up in 2009. Several breakout stars are most certainly on MLB scouts’ radars now: Kia Tigers’ Kim Do-yeong has long been considered a prospect, and the LG Twins’ Moon Bo-gyeong came out of nowhere to impress as the RBI leader in pool play — not just for Korea, but for the whole Classic.

 

For all the ups and downs, the team did enough to raise the odds of adding to Korea’s MLB ranks — and set the tone for another run at the title the next time it’s up for grabs.

 

Maybe then, the country’s dreams of basking in baseball glory won’t need a return ticket.