Korea's Run Ends in Quarterfinals... Mercy Rule Defeat to Dominican Republic in 7th Inning

Shut Out 0-10 in WBC Quarterfinals
Dominican Lineup Erupts for 9 Hits Including a Three-Run Homer
Starter Sanchez Strikes Out 8 Over 5 Scoreless Innings

The Korean national baseball team failed to advance to the semifinals of the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC).

Under the leadership of head coach Ryu Ji-hyun, Korea suffered a 0-10 defeat in a 7-inning mercy rule game against the Dominican Republic in the WBC quarterfinal held at LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, USA, on March 13 (local time). Korea collapsed against the Dominican Republic’s offense, allowing 9 hits (including 1 home run) and 6 walks. Against opposing starting pitcher Christopher Sanchez of the Philadelphia Phillies, Korea managed only 2 hits and struck out 8 times over 5 innings, failing to score any runs.

Korea, which reached the semifinals in the inaugural 2006 tournament and finished as runners-up in the 2009 edition, was eliminated in the group stage in the next three tournaments (2013, 2017, and 2023). This year, Korea finished second in Group C during the group stage (2 wins, 2 losses) and advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time in 17 years, but was unable to overcome the formidable Dominican Republic.

Ryu Ji-hyun, manager of the South Korea baseball national team, shows a disappointed expression after allowing many runs in the WBC quarterfinal match against the Dominican Republic. Miami=Yonhap News Agency

Korea’s lineup consisted of Kim Doyoung (KIA Tigers, third baseman), Justyn-Henry Malloy (Detroit Tigers, left fielder), Lee Junghoo (San Francisco Giants, center fielder), Ahn Hyunmin (kt wiz, right fielder), Moon Bokyung (LG Twins, designated hitter), Shay Whitcomb (Houston Astros, first baseman), Kim Hyesung (Los Angeles Dodgers, second baseman), Park Dongwon (LG Twins, catcher), and Kim Juwon (NC Dinos, shortstop). The starting pitcher was Ryu Hyunjin (Hanwha Eagles).

The Dominican Republic’s lineup featured Fernando Tatis Jr. (San Diego Padres, right fielder), Ketel Marte (Arizona Diamondbacks, second baseman), Juan Soto (New York Mets, left fielder), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays, first baseman), Manny Machado (San Diego Padres, third baseman), Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays, designated hitter), Julio Rodriguez (Seattle Mariners, center fielder), Agustin Ramirez (Miami Marlins, catcher), and Geraldo Perdomo (Arizona Diamondbacks, shortstop).

The Dominican Republic’s batting lineup was dominant. In the bottom of the second inning, leadoff hitter Guerrero Jr. drew a walk, followed by Caminero’s RBI double down the left-field line, Rodriguez’s RBI groundout to shortstop, and Tatis Jr.’s RBI single to right-center, resulting in a total of 3 runs. Ryu Hyunjin allowed 3 hits and 3 runs in 1.2 innings before leaving the mound. Noh Kyungeun (SSG Landers) took the mound with two outs and runners on first and second in the second inning and struck out Marte to escape the jam.

Christopher Sanchez, selected for the Dominican Republic, is pitching in the 5th inning during the WBC quarterfinals against Korea. Miami=Yonhap News

Korea used four pitchers in the third inning but gave up four more runs. Soto’s single to center and Guerrero Jr.’s RBI double to center, along with Machado’s RBI single to left, extended the lead to 5-0. Two more runs were added via bases-loaded walks, widening the gap to 7-0.

In the bottom of the seventh, with Korea trailing 0-7 and two outs with runners on first and third, Austin Wells (New York Yankees) hit a three-run homer, sealing the defeat. This year’s tournament rules specify mercy rule conditions: a 15-run lead after the 5th inning or a 10-run lead after the 7th inning results in a called game in both the group stage and the quarterfinals.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.