Na Seung-yup's first point →'Bokbung' Son Ho-young's timely hit → Yoon Dong-hee's crazy Home Bodhisattva! Lotte has lost five consecutive games, and today is different.

Jul 27, 2024

photo courtesy of Lotte Giants

Can the Lotte Giants overcome five consecutive losses and make a turnaround. First of all, it's a good start.

Lotte is playing the second game of the weekend series against the NC Dinos at Changwon NC Park on the 27th.

Lotte has recently lost five consecutive games. Since losing 4-21 to the Samsung Lions on the 21st, the bullpen has collapsed and lost for four consecutive games. In the previous game, Na Seung-yeop's home run in the top of the seventh inning tied the game 2-2, but he gave up a two-run final double to Davison in the bottom of the seventh inning and even allowed Kim Sung-wook's wedge 3-pointer and Davison's back-to-back home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, losing 2-9.

However, this day is different from the beginning. First of all, the starting pitcher is Charlie Barnes, the most reliable pitcher of the year. NC had a lineup of right-handed hitters including Kim Sung-wook (center fielder), Seo Ho-chul (third base), Davison (first base), Kwon Hee-dong (left wing), Kim Hwi-jip (designated hitter), Park Han-gyeol (left wing), Kim Hyung-joon (catcher), Kim Joo-won (striker) and Park Min-woo (second base). NC manager Kang In-kwon said, `Park Min-woo was also considered E, but it was difficult to exclude more key players because Park Gun-woo was also absent the previous day (following Son Ah-seop)", he explained. Regarding the appointment of Kim Hui-jip as a designated hitter, he added, `I have a good batting sense recently, but I suffered a minor injury when I collided in the defensive process the previous day.'

Lotte got off to a unique start by scoring three points against NC starter Kim Si-hoon in the top of the first inning. Lotte played Yoon Dong-hee (right wing), Ko Seung-min (second base), Jeon Joon-woo (designated hitter), Reyes (left wing), Na Seung-yeop (first base), Son Ho-young (third base), Park Seung-wook (striker), Son Sung-bin (catcher), and Jang Doo-sung (middle fielder).

photo courtesy of Lotte Giants

On this day, Lotte registered Yoon Sung-bin, an eighth-year prospect, and Kim Min-seok, who became a rookie sensation last year, respectively. Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung said, `I actually don't know much about Yoon Sung-bin. The evaluation of the second team was good", "I needed Kim Min-seok because Hwang Sung-bin was not good recently", he explained.

Lotte had a chance with two outs and runners on first and second bases with Ko Seung-min's hit after one out in the top of the first inning and Reyes' hit after two outs. Here, Na Seung-yeop's timely hit hits the first point. Na Seung-yeop continued his good batting performance in July following his home run the previous day.

Son Ho-young then took a 3-0 lead by hitting a two-run double on the left-field line that fell next to the third baseman.

Lotte starter Barnes allowed NC Seo Ho-chul to hit a triple that fell behind center field after one out in the bottom of the first inning, but he finished the inning by catching Seo Ho-cheol, who was tagged up by Lotte right fielder Yoon Dong-hee, at home when Davison hit a fly ball to right field.

lunarfly@sportschosun.com