Panama hands South Korea first-ever LLWS loss

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — The most dramatic Little League World Series game of the day so far, and by far, came when Panama stunned South Korea, 3-2, thanks to a three-run homer in the fifth inning. The loss was South Korea’s first ever in LLWS competition during, this, its fourth trip to Williamsport, but it will get the chance to fight through the losers’ bracket Thursday. Meanwhile, Panama punched its ticket to Saturday’s International Championship with the come-from-behind victory. Earlier in the day, Mexico and Tennessee won their elimination games in lop-sided fashion to earn another win-or-go-home contest on Thursday.

Game 23

Latin America 3, Asia-Pacific 2

South Korea pitcher Jaekyeong Kim had things in cruise control, allowing no runs through four innings of work. But after seeing his team scratch across two runs in the fourth for a 2-0 lead, he allowed a baserunner and reached 86 pitches in the fifth inning, so he was removed. The South Korea reliever was rudely greeted by a moonshot home run to center field by Esmith Pineda to put Panama ahead, 3-2. Despite suffering their first loss of this LLWS, and first loss by a South Korea team in any LLWS, the Asia-Pacific Region champs get to battle Mexico on Thursday, and the winner of that game will play Panama in the International Championship on Saturday.

Notable performer

The two teams combined for only two hits, and a large …

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