3rd baseman's glove hit 'Double play'→ Pitcher diving catch'Triple play' What's going on in Suwon

Sep 24, 2024

KT pitcher Kim Min-soo dives and catches Park Seung-wook's bunt ball with runners on first and second bases with no outs in the top of the sixth inning. MBC Sports Plus broadcast screen capture

The KBO League KT Wiz and Lotte Giants match held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 24th. In the top of the sixth inning, Lotte's Park Seung-wook is buntting with no outs and runners on the first and second bases. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.09.24/

The KBO League KT Wiz and Lotte Giants match held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 24th. KT Kim Min-soo catches a Lotte Park Seung-wook bunt ball and throws it to second base in the top of the sixth inning with no outs and runners on the first and second bases. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.09.24/

A match you can never lose. The defensive concentration was different.

At KT Wiz Park in Suwon on Wednesday when the Lotte Giants and KT Wiz match took place. KT, which is competing with SSG Landers for the semifinals, had to secure Lotte, and Lotte, which will be eliminated from the semifinals if it loses on the day, needed to win even if it did not let go of its last hope.

Such desperation created a great defense.

First, Lotte created a mysterious double play. In the bottom of the fifth inning, when the score was tied at 1-1, Jang Sung-woo hit a strong grounder from relief pitcher Kim Sang-soo. It was a fast-paced left-handed hit, but third baseman Son Ho-young attempted a diving catch, and the ball bounced off Son Ho-young's glove. Coincidentally, the toss was accurately made to shortstop Park Seung-wook, and Park Seung-wook threw it to second base to succeed in a perfect double play. Son Ho-young passed the ball accurately.

Lotte third baseman Son Ho-young tried to catch KT Jang Sung-woo's ball, but it hit his glove and bounced off. MBC Sports Plus broadcast screen capture

The KBO League KT Wiz and Lotte Giants match held at Suwon KT Wiz Park on the 24th. Lotte Park Seung-wook and Son Ho-young are catching their breath. Suwon = Reporter Park Jae-man pjm@sportschosun.com /2024.09.24/

The KT defense made a more unusual scene. Kim Min-soo, who came up as the second pitcher in the top of the sixth inning, allowed consecutive walks to Jeon Joon-woo and Yoon Dong-hee, facing a crisis of first and second bases with no outs. Park Seung-wook bunted toward the third base line at the first pitch, but kept rolling and left the foul line. On the second pitch, Park Seung-wook bunted again. This time, the ball was slightly forward. But the runners started running because they thought they would fall to the ground. Contrary to Lotte players' expectations, Kim Min-soo, who ran from the mound, attempted a diving catch and the ball went into the glove. Kim Min-soo threw to the second base to get out the runner on the third base, and shortstop Shim Woo-joon threw to the first base to get out Yoon Dong-hee, who arrived at the second base, completing a three-out and triple play in an instant.

The third triple-sal was born this season, and it was the 84th time in history.

indyk@sportschosun.com