Four-game series against Doosan ends in a loss…Ryu Ji-hyeok’s first ‘finishing error’ of the season
No pitcher in sight. The Samsung Lions, who have been struggling in the bullpen this season, suffered a late-game loss for the second straight day.
Starting a four-game series (including a doubleheader) against Jamsil in Seoul on Monday, Samsung fell 8-7 to Doosan in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League. Samsung, which lost to the Lotte Giants 1-2 in extra innings the previous day, dropped its second straight game to fall to 50 wins, one loss and 67 draws.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams engaging in a batting offense that included a barrage of home runs.
In particular, Samsung rallied from a 2-4 deficit in the top of the sixth inning with Lee Jae-hyun’s double, Kim Ho-jae’s RBI single, and Kim Hyun-joon’s RBI single to center field to make it 5-4.
Samsung took the lead, but Doosan, which is also trying to qualify for the postseason, fought back.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Heo Kyung-min tied the game with a lucky hit that bounced off the third base line.
Samsung answered right back.
Kang Min-ho, who had hit a two-run homer earlier in the game, led off the eighth with a single up the middle, followed by a bunt single by Kang Kang-ul, which led to a throwing error, putting runners on first and second with no outs.
Doosan’s Ryu Ji-hyuk followed with an RBI single to right and Kim Sung-yoon followed with an infield single to make the score 7-5.
Protecting a two-run lead has been a challenge for the Samsung bullpen this season. This was no different.
Woo Kyu-min and Kim Tae-hoon, who came on to preserve the win, collapsed in succession.
After allowing Doosan’s Kim Jae-ho to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth, the Samsung bullpen gave up the game-winning run in the top of the ninth.
Kim Tae-hoon gave up a walk to leadoff hitter Kim Jae-hwan. A leadoff walk in the last inning is a recipe for defeat.
Doosan duly laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third. Kim Tae-hoon was hit by a pitch to tie the game.
With runners on first and second, a crucial error was made.
Doosan’s Park Kye-beom hit a hard hit ball toward third base, and the ball hit Samsung third baseman Ryu Ji-hyuk’s glove and bounced out of the foul line. Meanwhile, Kang Seung-ho, the second baseman, rounded third base and crossed home plate.안전놀이터
The play was officially ruled an error by Ryu Ji-hyuk. It was his first this season.
With the win, Doosan swept a four-game series and won its second straight, closing the gap on fifth-place KIA to two games.