Olympics: What a show! USA vs. S. Korea

In the final go around for baseball in the Olympic summer tournament, how much more could you ask for in an opening day game featuring Team USA.

An exciting finish for TEAM USA even if they were on the losing side of the coin. Trailing 5-6 in the top of the ninth, Matt Brown stands in for a battle with S. Korea pitcher Suk Min Yoon. Brownie smacks a line drive into left center and drives home two runs (Brian Bardon and Dexter Fowler). USA goes up 7-6 into the Bottom of the 9th inning.

S. Korea didn’t concede so easily though. Jeff Stevens came into try and close it out for Team Stars and Stripes. BUT he gives up a rally starting double to Keun-Woo Jeong–the innings first batter. The the pinch hitter Hyun-Soo Kim (a stud in the Korean League) up to the plate. His groundout pushes Jeong over to third.  Ko Youngmin up for SK, with one out and he pops up a bunt foul

Here’s a question… This is where it gets weird. Korea sends up a different hitter in the at bat who takes over with one strike. The batter Taekkeun Lee, who -surprise, surprise- a infeild ground ball to second. USA’s Jayson Nix goes home with it and the play at the plate isn’t close, and they don’t get the out at 1st. Game tied 7-7.

And then we got problems… Stevens throws the ball away on a pick-off attempt, and Lee takes not one, but two bags on the USA error. He stands at 3rd with one out. Then the game winning Sacrifice Fly by Jongwook Lee who was the next batter. SK wins 8-7.

Nix’s choice to go home allowed the winning run to remain on the bags, and Stevens throw away allowed the sacrifice to be set. It’s a really tough way to open this tournament.  Up next the Netherlands.

TOP FOUR ADVANCE TO THE KNOCKOUT ROUND.

Team	W	L	RS	RA	WIN%	GB	Tiebreaker
Canada	1	0	10	0	1.000	-	-
South Korea	1	0	8	7	1.000	-	-
Chinese Taipei	1	0	5	0	1.000	-	-
Cuba	1	0	4	2	1.000	-	-
Japan	0	1	2	4	.000	1	-
Netherlands	0	1	0	5	.000	1	-
United States	0	1	7	8	.000	1	-
China	0	1	0	10	.000	1	-