South Korea beat Taiwan 5-0 in its Asian Games baseball opener, starting the tournament with a shutout against one of the stronger teams in its group. Starting pitcher Kwak Bin worked six scoreless innings and struck out 10.
Korea also received production across the lineup. Kim Joo-won recorded three hits, while Yoon Dong-hee added the team's first home run of the tournament. The combination gave Korea separation after the pitching staff kept Taiwan off the scoreboard.
The result matters mainly for tournament position. Korea is seeking a fifth consecutive Asian Games baseball title, and an opening win over Taiwan reduces pressure ahead of the remaining group games.
Korea is scheduled to face Hong Kong and Thailand next. Those games will determine the team's route into the super round, where results against the strongest remaining opponents will become more important than the margin in the opener.