Spain never was so close to international baseball glory than last Sunday 20th Sept., when they faced South Korea in the last game of 2nd round in The Netherlands. The results on the group had shown a choice for Spain to pass next round: First spots on the group were clear to The Netherlands, Puerto Rico and Cuba (though they were tripled-tied). But for 4th spot on the group was absolutely unclear until last games: because Spain had won to Venezuela, Venezuela to South Korea and Nicaragua, South Korea to Nicaragua, and Nicaragua to Spain, many teams had still a chance.
As we reported previous days, if Spain would have won to South Korea, and Puerto Rico won to Nicaraguans (something happened in fact), the squad managed by italian Mauro Mazzoti would have been in the 3rd round, among the 8 best teams of the world cup, something really historic, splendid, amazing, and all other words one can imagine.
Talking now about this game, or better, about the Spain team action at this 2009 World Cup is a kind of bittersweet feeling: when you are so close to a dream, and you don’t get it for only one or two runs…well it is not easy to manage this kind of feeling. In the other hand, all the players and coaches and Spanish baseball fans are completely proud of their brilliant performance: Spain baseball level has showed a big step forward, something that now is an international baseball acknowledgment. For sure, next European Championship Germany 2010 will be a time to confirm.
Backing to the game against South Korea, it actually looked like a kind of heroic adventure: in front they faced a strong team, South Korea: though the Koreans were not actually the world-starred team who got gold medal in Beijing Olympic games, or the surprising finalist at the 2009 World Classic, the Asian team was one of the expected teams to be in the last round (but their defeat against Venezuela has finally got the ticket to Rome for the South Americans). Here the Korean squad was formed by young prospect players from the Korean professional league, as well some College players. Korean stars, like pitchers Wong San Yoo (Hanhwa Eagles), Kyung Eun Noh (Doosan Bears), catcher Hee Keun Lee (Hanhwa Eagles), infielders Yong Kyu Choi (Kia Tigers) or his teammate Ho Sin Lee, were in charge to hold an outstanding team.
KOREA 2 – SPAIN 1
The game started at 13.00 at Amsterdam stadium … and the dream for Spain was so close to get, cause Spain team led the score 1-0 until 7th inning, in another game to keep in the Spain baseball’s memories. But last two innings homeclub South Korea (no doubt they were favourite team for this game) turned the scoreboard into a 2-1.
Yoel Hernandez was the Spanish starter on the mound, and he showed a brilliant performance when he blanked the strong Koreans for almost 6 innings, something a few pitchers could do (5.2 IP, only 3 hits, 9 SO, 2 BB).
Spain attack started strong against professional korean pitcher Son Seun Lak, with 2 hits by Febles and Figueroa, but a grounder to double play stop the choice to score.
Next five innings were also blanked for Spain attack, with ground and fly outs mainly. But “La Roja” never gives up, so in 6th inning Marlins outfilder Daniel Martinez singled to right field, Daniel Figueroa sacrificed bunted to advance Daniel. And Spain star Paco Figueroa got a RBI single to center field.
South Korea tried to tie immediately at the bottom of 6th, , but Dewis Navarro got a caught stealing to put out Kang, leadoff batter who had singled before. Then Yoel walked Choi, and he was relieved by Antonio Noguera (who plays A League at Tri-City Valleycats, New York). Noguera close the inning with a fly out.
Unfortunately, the next inning hadn’t the same blank end: Noguera managed to get the two first batters out (fly and K), but Kim Hu and Lee He singled consecutively. Then Renny Duarte –Spain pitching coach- decided to replace him with Pedro Belmonte, who allowed a RBI single to Jeung: 1-1 on the score. Last out was a grounder.
Spain was not able to score against Korean strong relievers: the pro Yoo Wong Sang, winner and MVP of the game, who produced 5 strike outs in 2.2 IP) and Yoon Ji Wong.
And Korea broke the game open closing 8th: After a fly out, Choi reached first with an infield error; lefty Ivan Granados replaced Belmonte on the mound: Cho walked, but Lee Ho was brightly struck out. Another pitching change entered closer Fernando Gutierrez. At this point, the two Koreans runners got a double steal, reaching 3rd and 2nd. Shin was walked. Then Rhiner Cruz (who had a perfect performance previous day against Great Britain) replaced Gutierrez… but unfortunately he allowed a RBI walked to Kim Hu: 2-1 on the score.
Spain still had a chance to tie at the top of the 9th, especially when Luis Perez doubled to left center with one out, and Dewis Navarro was walked. Then Yoon entered on the mound, getting the save when he put out the last two pinch hitters: Montiel (replacing Domero as DH) fouled out, and Lester Galvan (replacing Riera) hit a ground out to infield.
The dream was over, but one more day, Spain squad was brave on the field, in another game to keep in mind for ever. All players did their best, or even more: their arms, their hearts never give up fighting, but Korean pitching staff was yesterday so hard to beat.
Catch all the information on the game in the box score link.
