[Asian Games] S. Korea gains baseball win over Thailand

Published : Sept 22, 2014 - 22:18 Updated : Sept 22, 2014 - 22:18

South Korea on Monday easily defeated Thailand 15-0 after five innings in a mercy rule.

At the Asian Games, a game is called after five innings if a team is winning by at least 15 runs, or after seven innings if one side is leading by 10 runs or more.

Starter Kim Kwang-hyun, slated to pitch in the gold medal game on Sunday if South Korea reaches the finals, struck out four Thai hitters in two innings.

The eight first-inning runs came on four hits, six walks and an error, and starter Wissaroot Sihamat was charged with seven earned runs on three hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning.

South Korean manager Ryu Joong-il made frequent lineup changes, with every position player on the 24-man roster getting into the game.

South Korea is in Group B with Thailand, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong. The host country's next game will be against Chinese Taipei on Wednesday.

South Korea and Chinese Taipei are considered as the top two teams that have a chance at the gold. In 2010, the South Korea team won a gold medal after defeating Chinese Taipei.

In Monday's first Group B game, Chinese Taipei blanked Hong Kong 12-0 in a game that was called after the top of the seventh.

By Kim Young-won and news reports (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)