Kiwoom’s batters did not make good use of the opportunity that came that day. Kiwoom manager Hong Won-ki said in a meeting with reporters who visited the site ahead of the game on the 22nd, “The reason why the game was not played well in the attack is largely due to the remaining base.” As head coach Hong mentioned, Kiwoom’s batters recorded 10 leftovers against Lotte on the 21st. However, Kiwoom made an opposite situation in the second day of the three consecutive games against Lotte held at the same place on the 22nd.
Kiwoom shook off Lotte’s pursuit and won 5-3. The victory finally broke the eight-game losing streak. Kiwoom’s batters were 6-13 behind Lotte in the number of hits. However, Lotte was more than twice as many as Kiwoom at 16-7 in the number of remaining bases.
In particular, Lotte sent runners to scoring positions for four consecutive innings from the end of the sixth inning to the end of the ninth inning, which is the end of the game. As Hong mentioned, Lotte showed frustrating attack determination on the day.
After the game, head coach Hong said, “Ariel Furado, who started, completed his duties for five innings (Furado scored two runs in five innings). “I blocked the inning well while minimizing the number of runs,” he said. If Lotte played “keeping baseball” the previous day, Kiwoom did so this time. Coach Hong picked the third pitcher Lee Myung-jong as the decisive scene.
Lee Myung-jong led Jeon Joon-woo, who came to the batter’s box with one out and a full base in the bottom of the sixth inning, to a double play leading to third baseman, second baseman and first baseman after Lotte followed Yoo Kang-nam’s solo shot 3-4. Head coach Hong said, “Thanks to Lee Myung-jong’s double play, we were able to keep the win.” The bullpen, who came out afterwards, also calmly threw the ball and overcame the difficulties well, he added.
Kiwoom later maintained its lead, with Kim Sung-jin, Kim Jae-woong and closer Lim Chang-min taking charge of one scoreless inning each. As Hong said, all three pitchers faced a loss crisis, but they went well.
Coach Hong also looked back on the situation in which Roy Dawson, who made his KBO league debut, led the extra points. Dawson hit a timely hit that led to the first run in the first inning, and Kim Hye-sung and Lee Jung-hoo hit a triple and a hit in the top of the seventh inning, respectively, when they scored additional runs. Head coach Hong said, “Dawson’s timely hit opened the way for the attack, and Kim Hye-sung and Lee Jung-hoo hit well at a time when one point was essential.”
BY: 사설토토