'KKKKKKKKKKK' Samsung, one more good news! He survived to the 'back show'

By Sangkyoung, Park

Jul 04, 2024

'KKKKKKKKKKK' Samsung, one more good news! He survived to the 'back show'
◇photo courtesy of Samsung Lions
The Samsung Lions cruised amid the power of young blood, foreigners' one-two punch. One more favorable factor was added ahead of the second half of the year.

Veteran starter Baek Jung-hyun (37) seems to have recovered. Baek Jung-hyun allowed six hits (one home run), one walk, eight strikeouts and two runs in six innings against the KIA Tigers at Lions Park in Daegu on the 4th. The total number of pitches is 98. Baek returned to the mound last month after going through a long readjustment due to a calf injury in two games after the season's opening, proving that he is ready to keep his starting rotation in the second half of this season by recording the most innings and the most strikeouts this season in the match against KIA.

Baek Jung-hyun struck out Na Sung-bum in the top of the first inning with two outs and runners on second base. In the top of the second inning, when the team was leading 1-0, Choi Hyung-woo, gave up a solo shot to right-center. Baek Jung-hyun, who was hit by a double to the right field by Socrates Brito, was on the verge of turning the tables with two outs and third base due to Kim Tae-kyun's true hit, but he blocked the crisis by striking out Lee Chang-jin. Baek Jung-hyun also hit Na Sung-bum in the top of the third inning with two outs and a runner on second base.

'KKKKKKKKKKK' Samsung, one more good news! He survived to the 'back show'
◇photo courtesy of Samsung Lions
In the bottom of the third inning, Samsung's batters supported Baek Jung-hyun with Kim Heon-gon and Koo Ja-wook's 'Back to Back Home Run'. Baek Jung-hyun lost again in the top of the fourth inning when he got consecutive hits from Socrates and Byun Woo-hyuk and Kim Tae-kyun. However, he steadily built up an outcount against Lee Chang-jin and Park Chan-ho to prevent further pursuit. Baek Jung-hyun, who made a mistake in the fifth inning, took the mound again in the sixth inning and made a mistake in the third inning, receiving a standing ovation from home fans.

Baek Jung-hyun, who is in his late 30s, was mentioned as a candidate for Samsung's fifth starting pitcher this season as he recorded seven wins (five losses) despite suffering from injury last year. He was sluggish early in the season, and soon was out of injury and seemed unable to avoid 'aging curve'. However, he became the winning pitcher with three runs in five innings in the second game of the doubleheader against Doosan on the 23rd of last month, and is quickly finding his form by pitching well in the game against KT on June 29, when it was treated as a `no game' due to rain.

Baek Jung-hyun, who was called a "back show" by fans with a career-high 14 wins in the 2021 season, left a regret with only four wins in 24 games the following year. Following last season, which ended early due to injury, he slowed down earlier this year due to injury problems, but he still proves to be competitive in starting after returning.

'KKKKKKKKKKK' Samsung, one more good news! He survived to the 'back show'
◇photo courtesy of Samsung Lions
Samsung, which was considered to be a power that was far from the '5th place' before the season, showed a stable performance while maintaining the upper-middle level throughout the first half. Baek Jung-hyun's performance, which returned from a time when he was looking for a leap in the second half, seems to be enough to make coach Park Jin-man smile.





ppark@sportschosun.com

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