(Asiad) S. Korea beats pro club in Asiad baseball warm-up

SEOUL, Sept. 18 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean national baseball squad Thursday staged a 10-3 come-from-behind victory in a warm-up match against domestic pro club LG Twins, brightening the prospect for a gold medal at the Asian Games on home soil.

Outfielder Na Sung-bum hit a grand slam and shortstop Kang Jung-ho, recovering from a thumb injury, went 3-for-3 at the dish. On the mound, three relief pitchers dominated the Twins' hitters.

Starter Hong Seong-moo, the only amateur on the 24-man team, gave up two earned runs on two hits and two walks in two innings of work. Everett Teaford, the Twins' starter, held the lineup of the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) All-Stars to two hits over two innings.

For the national team, left-hander Kim Kwang-hyun, named the starter in the final on Thursday should South Korea go that deep, gave up a solo shot in the third inning after relieving Hong.

Then the offense got to work. In the bottom third, the national team loaded the bases after an infield hit, a hit-by-pitch and a walk, setting up the stage for Na's go-ahead grand slam.

Na, a sophomore outfielder for the NC Dinos, is among the KBO leaders in power categories this year and is a strong candidate to bat third in the national team order in the Asiad. Manager Ryu Joong-il put him in the third spot on Thursday.

In the bottom sixth, South Korea added three more runs, thanks to Kang Jung-ho's RBI double and run-scoring hits by Na Ji-wan and Lee Jae-won.

Kim Sang-su and Na Ji-wan combined for three RBIs in the eighth inning.

From the pen, An Ji-man fanned two batters in one inning. Cha Woo-chan struck out all three batters he faced, and Han Hyun-hee contributed a scoreless inning, too.

This was the only practice match for South Korea before the Asian Games kick off on Friday. South Korea will open Group B play against Thailand on Monday and then face Taiwan on Wednesday and Hong Kong the next day.

brk@yna.co.kr
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