The possibility that he showed by reversing the Big Innings...Only when 'they' prove it can KIA head to V12

Jul 03, 2024

The LG-KIA match at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 19th. Han Jun-su, a pinch hitter with no outs and runners on the second and third bases, is delighted after hitting an RBI timely hit in the bottom of the eighth inning. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.6.19/

Thrilling overtime big innings and come-from-behind wins, they may not have been able to achieve it without their strength.

The KIA Tigers secured the first place in the first half by winning the match against Samsung in Daegu on the 2nd. It was also impressive to catch up with the losing game with a last-minute chase, but the backup resources' performance and concentration revealed in the process were also impressive.

The batters who came in after being replaced in the second half made a foothold in the chase and even hit a wedge.

The LG-KIA match held at Kia Champions Field in Gwangju on the 18th. Lee Chang-jin is happy after hitting a hit with two outs and a runner on first base in the bottom of the second inning. Gwangju = Reporter Jeong Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.6.18/

Han Jun-su, who came in as Kim Tae-gun's pinch-hitter in the top of the seventh inning, played a leading role in the victory by making a wedge two-run shot in the top of the 10th inning following a double in the top of the ninth inning. He once suffered a slump as he took the lead in the full-time first team this season, but he led his team to victory by showing his clutch ability at an important moment based on his recent rise in hitting.

Byun Woo-hyuk, who was put in as Kim Do-young's great defense in the bottom of the fourth inning, also showed a stable third base defense. In the top of the 10th inning of extra time, he even proved his batting ability, which was considered a strength, by making an RBI single. Backup fielders such as Park Jung-woo, who played as a major leaguer in the ninth inning, and Lee Chang-jin, who scored a come-from-behind score with a shrewd play, performed evenly.

A game between Lotte and KIA at Sajik Baseball Stadium in Busan on the 25th. KIA Hong Jong-pyo hit a timely RBI in the eighth inning. Busan = Song Jeong-heon Reporter's songs@sportschosun.com/2024.06.25/

On the mound, bullpen pitchers who took the mound following starter James Nail also set the stage for the tie with the least number of runs. With KIA trailing by one point, Kwak Do-gyu and Lim Ki-young continued to throw to prevent the loss. Jeon Sang-hyun, who took the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning at the risk of finishing, also filled the last out count, setting up a big inning and a come-from-behind winning bridgehead in the top of the 10th inning. With the recent absence of closer Jung Hae-young, KIA had no pitcher to take responsibility for the back door, so their performance was bound to shine even more.

KIA-KT match held at KT Wiz Park in Suwon on the 16th. Jeon Sang-hyun is pitching in the bottom of the eighth inning. Suwon = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.6.16/

KIA, who took the lead based on consecutive wins at the beginning of the season, showed signs of fatigue as it entered the middle. The rotation of the fielders was not smooth due to the bullpen load and the occurrence of injuries caused by the starting gap. Considering not only Jung Hae-young but also Lee Ui-ri and Lee Woo-sung, such problems are likely to hamper KIA in the second half of the year. The role of backup, which will ease the burden on existing main players, is inevitably emphasized. At this time, the two-stroke performance revealed in the process of making a valuable come-from-behind victory is encouraging.

The KIA-Doosan game at Jamsil Stadium on the 7th. Choi Ji-min pitches in the bottom of the eighth inning. Jamsil = Reporter Jung Jae-geun cjg@sportschosun.com /2024.6.7/

No team is in charge of everything for a long season. Only when a strong backup to support the main player is added can he head to the presidential race. Pimali's performance is essential for KIA, which ended the first half of the year in first place amid competition, and to keep the lead in the second half and take a step toward V12.

ppark@sportschosun.com

The possibility that he showed by reversing the Big Innings...Only when 'they' prove it can KIA head to V12

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