WBC 2026 Highlights: Can Korea Maintain Their Lead Against Czech Republic After Barbra’s Home Run?

Vavra / Photo: Getty Images

Czech slugger Terin Vavra launched a three-run bomb off South Korean pitcher Jung Woo-joo in a thrilling WBC matchup.

South Korea is battling the Czech Republic in the Pool C opener of the 2026 World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome on March 5th.

The Korean bats came out swinging early. In the bottom of the first, with one out and the bases juiced, Moon Bo-gyeong crushed a grand slam over the right-center wall to give Korea a quick 4-0 lead.

Korea kept the pressure on in the second. Park Dong-won doubled and Kim Joo-won singled to put runners in scoring position. Jones then grounded out to short, driving in another run to make it 5-0.

The onslaught continued in the third. With one out and nobody on, Whitcomb took Czech reliever Barto deep, sending a solo shot over the left field fence to extend the lead to 6-0.

But the Czechs weren’t going down without a fight. In the top of the fifth, leadoff man Preada took a plunking from new pitcher Jung Woo-joo to reach base. After Prokopo went down swinging, Cervinka singled to left, putting runners on first and second with one out.

That’s when Vavra stepped up and made his mark. On a 3-1 count, he crushed Jung’s fifth pitch, sending it soaring over the opposite field wall for a three-run homer that breathed new life into the Czech squad.

As the game heads into the latter innings, South Korea clings to a 6-3 lead in what’s shaping up to be an exciting WBC opener.

[By Shin Seo-young, Sports Today sports@stoo.com]
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