[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil] Christopher Sanchez reminded everyone he's an elite Major League pitcher, shutting down South Korea's lineup.
Sanchez started the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) quarterfinal against South Korea on the 14th (Korean time) at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, and worked five scoreless innings, allowing two hits, striking out eight and walking one.
Thanks to Sanchez's outing, the Dominican Republic led South Korea 7-0 through six innings. If the score holds, Sanchez will be credited with the win.
Last season, Sanchez made 32 starts, logged 202 innings, went 13-5 with a 2.50 ERA and struck out 212 batters. He also finished second in National League Cy Young voting.
He was every bit the pitcher his numbers suggest. His sinker touched 97 mph (about 156 km/h), and a changeup that disrupted hitters' timing, paired with a sharp slider, kept the Korean batters off balance. He threw 63 pitches, 43 of them strikes.
Sanchez dominated from the outset. In the top of the first, he induced groundouts from Kim Do-young and Jermaine Jones and struck out Lee Jung-hoo. In the second, he got Ahn Hyun-min and Moon Bo-kyung on grounders and fanned Shay Whitcomb to keep the momentum.
Riding that momentum, Sanchez struck out leadoff man Kim Hye-seong in the third. He issued his first walk to Park Dong-won but then struck out Kim Ju-won and got Kim Do-young to ground out to third to end the inning.
Meanwhile, the Dominican offense helped Sanchez early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second and four in the third to open a comfortable lead.
In the fourth, Sanchez surrendered his first hit, a single to Jones, but escaped when Lee Jung-hoo hit into a double play. He later allowed a double to Ahn Hyun-min through the center gap but struck out Moon Bo-kyung to get out of the jam.
Sanchez returned for the fifth and struck out Whitcomb, Kim Hye-seong and Park Dong-won, then pumped his fist in celebration. He handed the ball to Albert Abreu to start the sixth and left the mound.
Through six innings, South Korea trailed the Dominican Republic 0-7.
[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil sports@stoo.com]
「Your closest, most fun news ⓒ Sports Today」
Sanchez started the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) quarterfinal against South Korea on the 14th (Korean time) at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, and worked five scoreless innings, allowing two hits, striking out eight and walking one.
Thanks to Sanchez's outing, the Dominican Republic led South Korea 7-0 through six innings. If the score holds, Sanchez will be credited with the win.
Last season, Sanchez made 32 starts, logged 202 innings, went 13-5 with a 2.50 ERA and struck out 212 batters. He also finished second in National League Cy Young voting.
He was every bit the pitcher his numbers suggest. His sinker touched 97 mph (about 156 km/h), and a changeup that disrupted hitters' timing, paired with a sharp slider, kept the Korean batters off balance. He threw 63 pitches, 43 of them strikes.
Sanchez dominated from the outset. In the top of the first, he induced groundouts from Kim Do-young and Jermaine Jones and struck out Lee Jung-hoo. In the second, he got Ahn Hyun-min and Moon Bo-kyung on grounders and fanned Shay Whitcomb to keep the momentum.
Riding that momentum, Sanchez struck out leadoff man Kim Hye-seong in the third. He issued his first walk to Park Dong-won but then struck out Kim Ju-won and got Kim Do-young to ground out to third to end the inning.
Meanwhile, the Dominican offense helped Sanchez early, scoring three runs in the bottom of the second and four in the third to open a comfortable lead.
In the fourth, Sanchez surrendered his first hit, a single to Jones, but escaped when Lee Jung-hoo hit into a double play. He later allowed a double to Ahn Hyun-min through the center gap but struck out Moon Bo-kyung to get out of the jam.
Sanchez returned for the fifth and struck out Whitcomb, Kim Hye-seong and Park Dong-won, then pumped his fist in celebration. He handed the ball to Albert Abreu to start the sixth and left the mound.
Through six innings, South Korea trailed the Dominican Republic 0-7.
[Sports Today reporter Lee Sang-pil sports@stoo.com]
「Your closest, most fun news ⓒ Sports Today」
