South Korea rally in 9th to defeat Japan 4-3 in Premier12 semifinal
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<p>TOKYO — At a sold out 40,000-seat Tokyo Dome, the world No. 8 South Korea National Team scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to rally past host and top-ranked Japan in the semifinals of the inaugural WBSC Premier12 global baseball championship.</p>
<p>Following a dominating performance by Samurai Japan starter Shohei Ohtani (7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 11 K), South Korea attacked Japan’s bullpen in the 9th inning. Ohtani took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, before South Korea’s Keunwoo Jeong belted a line drive to the center field.</p>
<p>Trailing 3-0, South Korea manager Kim In Sik opted to go with pinch hitters to start the ninth inning, and they delivered with back-to-back hits off Japan relief pitcher Takahiro Norimoto. Leadoff hitter Keunwoo Jeong then hit an RBI double to collect South Korea’s first run of the game — and in the tournament versus Japan.</p>
<p>Following a hit batsman that loaded the bases, Japan manager Hiroki Kokubo brought in pitcher lefty Yuki Matsui, who issued a walk to the only batter he faced to grant South Korea its second run of the game.</p>
<p>South Korea slugger Dae-ho Lee then hit a 2-run single off the third pitcher of the inning, Hirotoshi Masui, pushing South Korea over Japan, 4-3.</p>
<p>South Korea will play the winner of the Mexico-USA semifinal Friday night, while Japan will meet the loser in the bronze medal game.</p>
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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/wbsc/videos/1021106524578039/"><p>Highlights!! 侍ジャパン Japan vs KBO Korea Semifinal #Premier12</p>
<p>Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wbsc/">WBSC</a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wbsc/videos/1021106524578039/">Thursday, November 19, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="ja">Ohtani 9 strikes outs!! Semifinal Japan vs Korea 準決勝 日本 対 韓国 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Premier12?src=hash">#Premier12</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E4%BE%8D%E3%82%B8%E3%83%A3%E3%83%91%E3%83%B3?src=hash">#侍ジャパン</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Replay?src=hash">#Replay</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/samuraijapan_pr">@samuraijapan_pr</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FightersPR">@FightersPR</a> <a href="https://t.co/4kxLDBtNOZ">https://t.co/4kxLDBtNOZ</a></p>
<p>— WBSC (@WBSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/WBSC/status/667315232365133825">November 19, 2015</a></p></blockquote>
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