'Kim Do-yeong's Crucial Go-Ahead Homer' South Korea Beats Taiwan With Three Home Runs to Reach APBC Final... Japan Awaits in Title Showdown on the 15th

[Financial News] South Korea's national baseball team beat Taiwan and dramatically advanced to the 2026 Asia Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) final, powered by a focused offense that hit three home runs and a go-ahead homer by 'clutch performer' Kim Do-yeong (Kia Tigers).
The South Korean national baseball team, led by head coach Wonho Choi, beat Taiwan 6-4 in the final third game of the tournament's round-robin group stage at TOKYO DOME in Tokyo on the 14th. South Korea had been on the brink of elimination after consecutive losses to Australia and Japan, but revived its chances by beating Taiwan. Japan secured first place with three wins in three games. South Korea, Taiwan and Australia all finished tied at 1-2, but the TQB (Team's Quality Balance, (runs/innings on offense) - (runs allowed/innings on defense)) calculation put South Korea (-0.115) ahead of Taiwan (-0.207) and Australia (-0.640), earning it the second-place spot and a ticket to the final.
The undisputed hero of the game was Kim Do-yeong. After winning the first home run title of his KBO League career this season, Kim had been expected to be a key hitter for the national team, but struggled at the plate in the previous two games against Australia and Japan, batting .125 (1 hit in 8 at-bats, 2 strikeouts). But at the most decisive moment, with the team's fate on the line, he awakened his power-hitting instincts.
In the bottom of the fifth, with the score deadlocked at 3-3, Kim Do-yeong led off and lifted a slider from Taiwan's second pitcher, Chen Mu-heng, sending a thrilling solo shot well over the right-center-field fence. It was Kim's first home run of the tournament and a crucial go-ahead homer that secured South Korea's place in the final. Kim added another hit in the seventh for his first multi-hit game, fully regaining his rhythm at the plate ahead of the final.
South Korea's lineup showed its power against Taiwan's pitchers. With the score tied 0-0 in the bottom of the third, leadoff hitter Park Jae-hyun (Kia Tigers) hit a go-ahead solo home run to right. The opposing starter, Xu Shangsheng, then faltered, and South Korea quickly extended its lead to 3-0 with three hit-by-pitches and consecutive run-scoring hits by Kim Hwi-jip (NC Dinos) and Ahn Jae-seok (Doosan Bears).
Taiwan put up a strong fight as well. A solo homer by Zeng Sheng-an and a two-run homer by Zhang Renwei in the top of the fifth quickly tied the game. But South Korea regained the lead with Kim Do-yeong's go-ahead homer in the bottom of the fifth, then added a run in the sixth on consecutive doubles by Cho Hyeong-woo (SSG Landers) and Park Jae-hyun. Taiwan's Zeng Sheng-an hit another consecutive home run in the top of the seventh, cutting the lead to 5-4, but Moon Jeong-bin (LG Twins) crushed an insurance solo homer over the left-center-field fence in the bottom half to seal the win.

On the mound, starting pitcher Lee Ro-woon (SSG) earned the win after holding firm over six innings and 97 pitches, allowing three hits (including two home runs), striking out nine and giving up three runs. Relievers Choi Jun-yong (Lotte Giants) and Park Jeong-min (Lotte) then shut Taiwan out for one and one-third innings and one inning, respectively, preserving the narrow victory.
After its dramatic advance to the final, South Korea will face its 'fated rival,' Japan, again for the championship trophy at 7 p.m. on the 15th at the same venue. Since beating Japan in the semifinal of the 2015 WBSC Premier12, South Korea has been at a decisive disadvantage against Japan in international competitions featuring professional players, with a record of one tie and 12 losses over 11 years. South Korea, which finished runner-up after falling to Japan in both previous APBC tournaments (2017 and 2023), is aiming to end its 'winless-against-Japan jinx' and claim its first title at the tournament.


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