Kang Ri-ho (Gapyeong Wales), who is playing in an independent league after failing to sign a professional baseball free agent contract, failed to reach the finals of the 2023 KBO DREAM CUP Independent Baseball Tournament.
Gapyeong Wales lost 2-10 in the quarterfinals against Yeoncheon Miracle at the KBO Baseball Center in Hwaseong, Gangwon Province, on April 11. Kang Ri-ho pitched three innings in relief, giving up two runs on two hits with two walks and one strikeout. His fastball reached 139 kilometers.
Kang entered the game as the second pitcher with the bases loaded in the third inning, trailing 0-3. He walked the first batter, Jeon Tae-joon, on two balls and two strikes. Lee induced a grounder to shortstop to put runners at second and third to end the inning.
Led off the fourth inning with a grounder to third base, but was thrown out at home on a throwing error by the third baseman. The next batter hit a send bunt that Kang quickly caught and threw to second for the out. With runners on first and second, he struck out swinging on a 136-kilometer fastball.
A wild pitch advanced the runner from 메이저사이트 first to second. On a full count, the runner on second stole third. But a grounder to shortstop ended the inning with runners at second and third.
With the pitch count rising, we gave up a run. In the fifth inning, the leadoff batter grounded out to first base. The next batter was hit by a pitch to load the bases. With runners on first and second, Jeon gave up a one-out double off the right field fence.
With runners on second and third, Lee Sung-shin grounded out to third base, but the third baseman was late in making the tag as the ball sailed high and slightly to the side of the catcher. A fielder’s choice allowed the first run to score. He then allowed a single to left field to put runners on first and third, making the score 5-1.
A hit by pitch put runners on first and second with one out. Park’s grounder to first base was caught by the first baseman, who threw home and tagged out the runner at third to end the threat.
Kang Ri-ho pitched well in the first game of the preliminary round with six innings of one-hit ball with one strikeout and no walks. However, he struggled in the semifinals with three innings of two-run ball and the team was unable to advance to the final.
The KBO has been holding the ‘2023 KBO DREAM CUP Independent Baseball Tournament’ in Hwaseong, Gangwon Province since July 7. The KBO DREAM CUP Independent Baseball Tournament, which is being held for the first time this year, aims to give undrafted amateur players and players released by professional teams a chance to fulfill their dreams once again and to improve the performance of independent baseball teams.