Lim Chan-gyu and Son Joo-young praised it. What about ENCE? M.E.R.E... 3 runs in 2.2 innings → 5 runs in 3 innings. There was no last chance for the 'preliminary FA'
Oct 20, 2024
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Of the five starting pitchers of the LG Twins, Eliaser Hernandez and Lim Chan-kyu and Son Joo-young have been key members in this postseason, showing that they are indispensable. He has established himself as a reliable pitcher even in big games.
Hernandez, who turned from a starter to a bullpen, pitched in all five games in the semi-PO and allowed no runs in seven ⅓, becoming the top contributor to advancing the team to the playoffs with two saves and one hold. In the playoffs, he appeared in relief in the sixth inning of Game 3, blocking three scoreless innings until the ninth inning and making saves.
Lim Chan-kyu became a winning pitcher with two runs (one earned run) in five ⅓ innings in the second round of the semi-PO, and another winning pitcher with one run in six innings in Game 5. And in the third game of the PO, he became a winning pitcher again with five scoreless innings in five ⅓. He became a winning pitcher in all three games this postseason and pitched a tremendous salty 1.08 ERA with only three runs (two earned runs) in 16 ⅔ innings. He showed a sense of stability in a big game that could be called Lim Chan-kyu's rediscovery.
Son Joo-young, who started for the first time this season, also announced that he could work in a big game. Son Joo-young, who came out as the second pitcher in the third round of the semi-PO and scored a hold by allowing five scoreless innings and two scoreless innings as the second pitcher in the fifth round of the PO, made his first start in the second round of the PO, but was unlucky and became a losing pitcher with four runs (three earned runs) in four ⅓ innings. In the fourth round, he came out as the second pitcher after Ence, preventing him well with a three-base strike in the top of the seventh inning, but became a losing pitcher after being hit by Kang Min-ho in the top of the eighth inning. It was sluggish due to fatigue in the PO, but the performance shown in the semi-PO was enough to expect further development next season.
However, Detrick Ens and Choi Won-tae were sluggish in the semi-playoffs. In the first round of the semi-PO, he became a losing pitcher with five hits (one home run), two walks, six strikeouts and three runs in five ⅓ innings, and after three days of rest, he fired up his fighting spirit to take the mound in Game 4, but he showed sluggish performance in three ⅓ innings with six hits (one home run), two walks, three strikeouts and four runs. He was scheduled to start in the second round of the playoffs on the 14th after a four-day break, but was pushed back a day due to rain, so the starter was changed to Son Joo-young, and Ence prepared for Game 4.
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After that, the contrast between the two was divided. Ence succeeded in recovering his honor in his last appearance, but Choi Won-tae failed to do so.
In the fourth round of the PO held on the 19th, Ence pitched the best in the KBO League this year. He gave up just one hit in six innings, struck out eight with two walks and allowed no runs. After giving up a straight walk from the leadoff Kim Ji-chan in the top of the first inning, he handled 11 batters until he allowed a walk to Park Byung-ho in the top of the fourth inning. In the top of the fifth inning, he was on the verge of a one-out and second base with a sacrifice bunt after receiving his first and last hit from the leader Kim Young-woo, but he struck out Jeon Byung-woo and Lee Jae-hyun in a row, and in the top of the sixth inning, he also showed off his perfect pitching by dealing with three outs.
Unfortunately, Choi didn't even have a chance to recover his reputation. After Game 1, he was included in the list of non-players in Games 2, 3, and 4. In particular, in Game 4, he had five days of rest to be able to take the mound, but manager Yeom Kyung-yeop put Choi Won-tae on the list of non-players. If Game 5 had been held, he could have taken the mound. However, Choi Won-tae ended the season without a chance to pitch well as he lost 0-1 in the fourth game and was eliminated with 1-3.
Now Choi Won-tae becomes an FA. In the regular season this season, he played in only 24 games due to injuries, recording 9 wins, 7 losses and an ERA of 4.26. Choi Won-tae, who will be eligible for the FA for the first time in his life, played well in this postseason and had to raise the ransom, but unfortunately, he did not get such a good result.
indyk@sportschosun.com
