Hit the top, run lightly in front of the coach... Austin starts five days after knee injury
Jul 30, 2024
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LG's starting lineup consists of Hong Chang-ki (right wing), Oh Ji-hwan (striker), Austin (designated hitter), Moon Bo-kyung (first baseman), Kim Hyun-soo (left wing), Park Dong-won (catcher), Park Hae-min (middle fielder), Shin Min-jae (second baseman), and Koo Bon-hyuk (third baseman) in the home game against the Samsung Lions on the 30th.
The biggest concern in the LG lineup is whether Austin will play or not. Austin took a break from the weekend's three consecutive games against the Hanwha Eagles.
Austin had collapsed for a while while trying to catch a foul fly against the Lotte Giants in Busan on the 25th, colliding with catcher Park Dong-won and complaining of pain. Fortunately, the game was played to the end, but it was clear that there was a shock.
He will not be allowed to play from the match against Hanwha in Jamsil on the 26th due to knee bruises. At the time, LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop said, `You can't play in three consecutive weekend games"I think I'll have to look at the status on Tuesday as well. If he plays, he will be able to be a designated hitter.
Austin's influence at LG is huge. Austin, who has a batting average of .330, 108 hits, 21 home runs and 80 RBIs, is tied for second overall in RBIs. In the team, he ranks third in batting average, second in most hits, and first in home runs and RBIs.
Fortunately, LG's match against Hanwha was canceled due to rain on the 26th and 27th. However, the game was played normally on the 28th and LG lost 6-9 after a batting match, failing to win eight consecutive games. Austin's vacancy was huge.
Austin tee-batted and then had normal batting training in the batting cage. After completing batting training, he entered the locker room and showed that he was in good condition by running slightly to coaches who asked about his condition, increasing the possibility of starting on the day. And as expected, he was listed in the lineup as No. 3-designated hitter.
Austin is especially strong in Jamsil. In 51 games in Jamsil, Austin batted .321 with 11 homers and 51 RBIs.
For LG, three consecutive games during the week against the Samsung Lions will be held in Jamsil from the 30th are important. The gap between LG, the second-ranked team, and Samsung, the third-ranked team, is three games. In this season's competition with Samsung, the team has slightly trailed the Samsung Lions by posting five wins, one draw and six losses. As the team has a wide gap of six games with No. 1 Kia, it will not be easy to catch up with No. 1 ranking if it gets farther away. In order to narrow the gap with the first place and narrow the gap with the third-place group and pursue the first place in earnest, we need to take at least a winning series against Samsung, and Austin's strike is necessary.
Meanwhile, LG excluded Kim Dae-hyun from the first-tier entry the previous day, and called up Choi Dong-hwan on the same day.
indyk@sportschosun.com
