 |
| Photo provided by Samsung Lions |
|
 |
| Photo provided by Samsung Lions |
|
 |
| Photo provided by Samsung Lions |
|
Kang Min-ho drew an arch in the Daegu sky for three consecutive games and Na Seung-yeop for two consecutive games. But the final winner was Cardenas, who finished the last minute.
In Game 3 of the weekend series against the Lotte Giants at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on the 21st, the Samsung Lions produced a six-to-five, one-point reversal after a bloody battle. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Ruben Cardenas' walk-off two-run shot went off.
Samsung continued its pursuit of the leading KIA with 50 wins (43 losses and 2 draws). Lotte failed to close the gap with seventh-ranked KT Wiz by posting its 49th loss (40 wins and 3 draws).
Samsung faced off with the lineup of Kim Ji-chan (designated hitter), Lee Jae-hyun (striker), Kadenas (right wing), Kang Min-ho (possess), Kim Young-woong (third base), Lee Sung-kyu (first base), Ryu Ji-hyuk (second base), Kim Heon-gon (left wing) and Kim Hyun-jun (middle fielder). The starter was left-hander Lee Seung-hyun.
Lotte entered the lineup of Yoon Dong-hee (center fielder), Jeong Hoon (designated hitter), Son Ho-young (third base), Reyes (right wing), Jeon Joon-woo (left wing), Na Seung-yeop (first base), Ko Seung-min (second base), Park Seung-wook (striker), and Son Sung-bin (catcher). Barnes is the first choice.
Samsung was excluded from the first-team entry after Koo Ja-wook suffered a calf contusion with a hit ball the previous day. Samsung manager Park Jin-man said "The pain was severe and swollen a lot. For the time being, we should concentrate on treatment," he said, asking Kim Hyun-joon to work harder to fill the gap.
 |
| Photo provided by Samsung Lions |
|
Regarding the 4-21 defeat the previous day, Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung said, `We can't use the must-win group if we give less points to the same game yesterday,' adding, `We're still considering the 5th starter to replace Lee In-bok.' "We need to know the flow of the game against the defense team who made mistakes even in the midst of the crushing defeat." gave a shot.
Lotte took the lead. Lotte had a chance to get on base with Jung Hoon and Son Ho-young on base with a walk in the top of the first inning, and scored the first run with Reyes' timely hit. However, Jeon Joon-woo's double play cut the flow. In the top of the second inning, Son Sung-bin and Yoon Dong-hee struck out with one out and runners on the first and second bases.
Samsung's Kang Min-ho fired a tying solo shot in the bottom of the second inning. Kang Min-ho proved Lotte's natural enemy's presence once again with home runs in three consecutive games this series.
 |
| Photo provided by Samsung Lions |
|
Lotte's leadoff hitter Jeon Joon-woo got on base with a hit in the top of the fourth inning, and Na Seung-yeop fired a two-run shot over the right-center fence. Lee Seung-hyun's 130km cut fastball did not miss being flat on the high course. Lotte then combined Park Seung-wook's double and Yoon Dong-hee's timely hit to run to 4-1. Samsung tried to change the atmosphere by putting Hwang Dong-jae instead of Lee Seung-hyun.
Samsung also launched a counterattack. After returning from the All-Star break, Barnes has recorded six and seven scoreless innings in two games. However, the scoreless inning was cut in 14 innings earlier, and in the bottom of the fifth inning, Kadenas' timely double followed by Kim Hyun-joon and Kim Ji-chan's consecutive hits and Kang Min-ho's infield ground ball chased again 4-3.
 |
| Photo provided by Samsung Lions |
|
Lotte struggled hard with Barnes' 107 pitches until the second out in the seventh inning, and Han Hyun-hee blocked the ensuing crisis well. In the top of the eighth inning, leadoff hitter Park Seung-wook walked to base, and pinch runner Hwang Sung-bin advanced to third base when he hit an infield ground ball and a fly ball to center field.
Here, Samsung put in a super strong move to put in closer Oh Seung-hwan. However, he gave up a straight walk against Jung-hoon, with two outs and runners on first and third bases. Samsung shortstop Lee Jae-hyun left out Son Ho-young's ground ball to shortstop, making it 5-3.
However, Samsung chased 4-5 with a timely hit by pinch hitter Yoon Jung-bin with one out and runners on the first and second bases in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Kadenas fired a finishing shot against Lotte closer Kim Won-joong, who was put in early.
 |
| Photo provided by Samsung Lions |
|
lunarfly@sportschosun.com
