I'm getting hit by Benjamin again... Second, third, and domestic 'Benjamin' appeared. Will my left hand be a stumbling block to my second consecutive challenge?
Jul 09, 2024
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Therefore, the opposing team used a lot of left-handed starters, but LG's batting lineup did not shake much last year. Last year, he ranked first overall with a team batting average of 279 percent. He also ranked third overall with a batting average of 277 against left-handed pitchers.
However, he was weak against certain left-handed pitchers.
KT Wiz's Wes Benjamin scored four wins, no losses, and a 0.84 ERA against LG last year, making him the `LG killer.'
Benjamin has 7 wins, 4 losses and a 4.10 ERA this year, but he maintains a good record of 1.47 ERA in three games against LG.
This year, a large number of top left-handed foreign pitchers such as NC Heart, Castano, and Kiwoom Heysus appeared. Ryu Hyun-jin, a former top-flight big leaguer, also returned to Hanwha.
It was expected that it could be a threat to LG, and it soon became a reality.
LG's second and third Benjamin, which is particularly strong, appeared.
The representative figure is Enmanuel de Heysus of Kiwoom Heroes. Heysus, who is ranked first in the most wins with 10 wins, has three wins against LG alone. Throwing 19 innings, just one run. It is also a non-visibility, so the ERA against LG is 0.00. He walked just six while striking out 20.
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But Kyle Hart is different. He had a 4.76 ERA with two wins and no losses in three games. In particular, on June 28, his third appearance, he overwhelmed LG's batters by allowing four hits, two walks, 10 strikeouts and one run in six ⅔ innings in Changwon.
Cam Aldred, who KIA Tigers brought in replacement of Will Crow, who was dropped due to injury, also pitched stably in his first appearance against LG in Gwangju on June 20, recording two hits, two walks and two runs (incriminating) in six innings. Expectations were raised amid a situation in which LG had to compete for the championship in the second half of the year.
Not only foreigners but also domestic left-handed pitchers were strong against LG.
Lee Seung-hyun of the Samsung Lions appeared in two games against LG in the first half of the year and recorded a 0.00 ERA with two wins and no losses. Lee Seung-hyun, who gave up only six walks and allowed eight strikeouts in five innings without a hit in Daegu on April 24, met in Jamsil on June 27 and tied the LG lineup once again with four hits, two walks and three strikeouts in six innings.
LG is highly dependent on its main batters.
There are not many right-handed hitters who will go out and perform well instead of them.
Kim Bum-seok showed good performance for about a month in the first half, but soon drew a downward curve due to the physical burden and exposure to weaknesses.
For LG, which is seeking to win the upset title in the second half of the year, the main left-handed hitters must overcome the opposing left-handed aces.
indyk@sportschosun.com
