Jeon Jun-woo's tie hit → Na Seung-yeop's come-from-behind final hit → Kim Won-joong finished! Lotte's 3 consecutive wins, a last-minute turnaround against NC
Aug 06, 2024
|
|
|
The Lotte Giants produced a six-to-five, one-point turnaround in the first game of the week-on-week series against the NC Dinos at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 6th. It was a nerve-wracking match until the end.
With the victory, Lotte won its 44th victory (54 losses and 3 draws) this year, and did not lose its last hope of autumn baseball. He maintained a five-game gap over the fifth-place SSG Landers, the final line of fall baseball.
On the other hand, the NC Dinos lost their 52nd game (49 wins and 2 draws) of the season, falling one step behind in the fight for fifth place.
It was a game where we couldn't let our guard down until the end. Lotte closer Kim Won-joong faced a crisis of loading the bases with one out in the top of the ninth inning. However, NC Kwon Hee-dong's come-from-behind hit on the third base line was blocked by Lotte third baseman Choi Hang's good defense, and even Kim Hwi-jip finished the game with a ground ball to shortstop.
|
NC manager Kang In-kwon said of new foreign pitcher Eric Jokish, who should play the role of 'Save the World' in the semifinal fight, "He will be able to play on the 9th at the latest (against Jamsil LG Twins)." The answer is that more consideration is needed when the visa comes out earlier than expected. However, he was confident that Yokishi had already played live pitching in the test against the Doosan Bears, and confirmed that he was in a physical condition that could be immediately put into the actual game in the bullpen pitching the previous day.
On this day, Lotte's line
|
NC faced Park Min-woo (2nd base), Seo Ho-cheol (3rd base), Davison (1st base), Kwon Hee-dong (1st base), Kim Hui-jip (designated hitter), Kim Sung-wook (middle fielder), Chun Jae-hwan (right fielder), Kim Hyung-joon (captor), and Kim Joo-won (striker). The first choice is Shin Minhyuk.
NC dominated the beginning. NC scored the first run against Lotte ace Wilkerson with consecutive hits by Chun Jae-hwan, Kim Hyung-joon, and Kim Joo-won's sacrifice fly in the top of the third inning. He then added Park Min-woo's base running, Seo Ho-chul's opponent's error when he grounded out to third base, and Davison Kwon Hee-dong's timely hit to produce a four-run big inning.
Lotte countered with Ko Seung-min's solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning. However, NC took a 5-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning by adding another run due to Kwon Hee-dong's timely hit following Davison's double. Shin Min-hyuk's good pitching was also outstanding.
But the giant was aiming for a round of piggybacking. Shin Min-hyuk, who pitched well with 75 pitches until the sixth inning, suddenly shook. Yoon Dong-hee's walk and Na Seung-yeop's hits gave him a chance to first and second bases with no outs, and NC raised Lim Jung-ho, a must-win group. However, Lotte followed with Jeong Hoon and Son Sung-bin's consecutive walks and Hwang Sung-bin's timely hit to 3-5.
|
Lotte's must-win group Kim Sang-soo, who returned from a good rest, also blocked the top of the eighth inning with a three-way error, and Son Ho-young got on base with an infield hit in the bottom of the eighth inning and took a chance to turn the tables. NC pitcher Kim Jae-yeol's check error overlapped, making it second base with no outs. Na Seung-yup's final hit led to Jang Doo-sung's home run.
|
Park Min-woo and Seo Ho-cheol's consecutive hits led to wild pitches, and Choi was in absolute crisis with one out and full base. However, Choi garnered Kwon Hee-dong's come-from-behind hit with a miraculous jump catch. Kim Won-joong grounded out Kim Hwi-jip to shortstop and cut off his past nightmare.
lunarfly@sportschosun.com
