Tokyo: South Korea rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning to tie Japan 7-7 in the countries' exhibition baseball game in Tokyo on Sunday. With South Korea down to its final out at Tokyo Dome, Kim Ju-won hit a solo home run off Taisei Ota to level the score. With no extra innings in play, Kim Young-woong struck out to end the game.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea had previously lost Saturday's game 11-4, after the bullpen surrendered an early 3-0 lead and issued eight walks over 4 2/3 innings. Sunday's game followed a similar pattern, with the South Korean relievers issuing 11 free passes, including four with the bases loaded.
South Korea capitalized on its initial rally in the bottom third inning. With the bases loaded against starter Yumeto Kanemaru, Song Sung-mun drove in two runs with a single to right. Ahn Hyun-min, who had drawn a walk before Song, advanced to third on the play. With runners at the corners, Song and Ahn executed a double steal, allowing Ahn to score for a 3-0 South Korea lead.
The offensive surge came after 19-year-old starter Jeong Woo-joo delivered three hitless innings with four strikeouts. He navigated through a challenging second inning, which included a misplay that put two runners aboard, but managed to end the threat without allowing a run.
However, the bullpen struggled once again. Left-hander Oh Won-seok gave up a double and a walk against the first two batters he faced in the bottom fourth. A subsequent walk loaded the bases, and Sasaki's single up the middle cut the deficit to 3-1. Oh then walked Ishikami, pushing in another run.
Right-hander Jo Byeong-hyeon relieved Oh but issued a walk to Ryota Isobata, bringing home the tying run. South Korea briefly regained the lead in the bottom fourth, thanks to Shin Min-jae's two-out RBI single.
The lead was short-lived, as Kim Young-woo, who took over pitching duties, walked Sasaki to bring in the tying run. Ishikami then hit a single to right, plating two more runs for a 6-4 Japan lead.
South Korea managed to score one run in the bottom seventh after loading the bases with one out against Hiroto Takahashi. A sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Park Dong-won made it a 6-5 game, but Japan extended its lead in the top eighth after Bae Chan-seung walked Shota Morishita with the bases loaded.
Ahn Hyun-min's solo home run off Takahashi in the eighth inning brought South Korea within a run, setting the stage for Kim Ju-won's game-tying homer in the ninth. Despite the rally, the game ended in a draw, highlighting the resilience of both teams in this exhibition matchup.