When LG Twins’ starting pitcher Choi Won-tae was ejected for throwing a head shot to Lotte Giants’ No. 5 hitter Son Ho-young at the bottom of the first inning, it seemed as if Lotte would end up winning the game. It was obvious that LG’s bullpen was weak and thus it would not be able to block Lotte’s batters. However, the saying, “Baseball is not over until the end,” has to be repeated every time. Eight LG bullpen pitchers allowed two runs (non-earned) during 10 ⅔ innings until the extended 11th inning. And LG hitters continued to pound and beat Lotte’s mound to open the door for scoring.
At an away game against the Lotte Giants held at Sajik Stadium in Busan on Saturday, LG secured a come-from-behind victory 9-6 in the bottom of the 11th inning with two outs and a sweeping double by Park Hae-min. LG won its first seven consecutive games this season, while Lotte lost its fourth consecutive game.
In fact, LG was unlucky. Choi Won-tae’s 144km fastball that he threw to Son Ho-young in the bottom of the first inning flew high into the body and hit him by the helmet. Fortunately, he was hit by the helmet and was able to keep running without getting seriously injured. He left automatically because his fastball became a head shot. 퀸알바
Lee Ji-gang came up hurriedly, but with the bases loaded with one out, he had two consecutive hits on Park Seung-wook’s sacrifice fly to start the first inning with a gap of 0-4. Following Lee Ji-gang, Kim Young-joon, Lim Joon-hyung and Kim Dae-hyun came out to block him well, and starting with Austin’s three-run shot in the top of the fifth inning, LG started chasing him. In the top of the eighth inning, Shin Min-jae’s timely hit to center field tied the game at 5-5. When Shin became a home hitter, he ran to second base, but the ball went to second base again, and Shin seemed to be faster. The second 심 was also declared safe. After a video review, he was overturned to out. It turned out that Shin Min-jae’s right hand touched the second base first, but when his hand briefly went off the base due to speed, shortstop Park Seung-wook’s glove was caught tagging Shin’s left arm on the screen. Since then, it was even more regrettable that Shin had a right-handed hit by Ham Chang-gun.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Kim Yoo-young seemed to catch Jeong Hoon’s grounder, and grab one out. However, the slow throw flew too high just because he threw it leisurely. Austin tried to jump and catch it, but it was too high to catch it. In the meantime, Jung Hoon ran to the second base and had to go to the first out, but now he has no outs and no outs. Jeon Joon-woo’s foul fly to the right field gave him a one-out third base, and Park Seung-wook’s sacrifice fly to the center field lost the lead again to 5-6.
Still, LG did not give up even in the top of the ninth inning. Lotte Giants closer Kim Won-joong gave a blone save. The mood seemed to be flagging due to Oh Ji-hwan’s strikeout, but Austin and Moon Bo-kyung drew consecutive walks to create chances for the first and second bases. Park Dong-won struck out and ended up with two outs, but pinch hitter Koo Bon-hyuk hit a timely hit to make the game 6-6.
LG’s closing pitcher Yoo Young-chan took the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning and had a heavy hit by the leader Choi Hang, but struck out after Yoon Dong-hee’s bunt attempt was fouled, and Na Seung-yeop also struck out and ended Reyes with a straight hit to the first baseman to connect the game to overtime.
After Jung Woo-young overcame the crisis of the first and second bases with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning, LG finally came from behind in the top of the 11th inning. Austin’s walk, Park Dong-won’s hit to the third base, and Koo Bon-hyuk’s walk made the bases loaded with two outs, and Park Hae-min swept over the center field height with a come-from-behind three-run double to determine the outcome.
At the bottom of the 11th inning, Baek Seung-hyun took the mound and gave up a walk, but he ended the game without giving up a flow.
After Choi Won-tae was substituted for four runs during ⅓ innings, eight bullpen pitchers, including Lee Ji-gang (2 ⅔ innings scoreless), Kim Young-joon (1 ⅓ scoreless), Lim Joon-hyung (1 ⅔ scoreless), Kim Dae-hyun (1 inning scoreless), Kim Yoo-young (1 inning scoreless), Yoo Young-chan (1 inning scoreless), Jung Woo-young (1 inning scoreless), and Baek Seung-hyun (1 inning scoreless), blocked Lotte’s batters, creating a dramatic come-from-behind victory like the second game of the Korean Series last year.
LG’s batting lineup was impressive as it scored after two outs. Austin’s three-run shot hit after two outs in the top of the fifth inning when the team was losing 0-5, and Koo Bon-hyuk’s equalizer came after two outs in the top of the ninth inning when the team was losing 5-6. Park Hae-min’s come-from-behind hit also came after two outs in the top of the 11th inning.
After the game, LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop said, “It became inevitable as (Choi) Won-tae’s head shot came out. All the pitchers in the bullpen showed their concentration and blocked them with the least number of runs, which eventually served as a foothold to keep up.” He also praised the batters for turning the tables on the tie around, saying, “Austin’s three-run home run started the chase, and our players did not give up until the end and Hae-min scored three RBIs at a critical moment, so we were able to win.”
“The weather was hot and it was hard for the players to concentrate on the game, but I want to compliment all the players who showed their concentration until the end,” coach Han said. “Thanks to the fans who came all the way to Busan and cheered for us until late, we won our first seven consecutive games this season. Thank you.”
