(Xinhua Jamsil, Jisoo Kim) The Lotte Giants defeated the LG Twins in a hard-fought pitching battle to end a three-game losing streak. Park Se-woong’s strong pitching and Yoo Soo-jin’s defensive focus shone through.
Lotte won the seventh game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League against LG 2-1 at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on 23 June. It was a valuable point for Lotte, which has slumped to 3-12 in June and faces its biggest crisis since the start of the season토스카지노.
LG’s starting line-up was Hong Chang-ki (right fielder), Park Hae-min (centre fielder), Kim Hyun-soo (first baseman), Austin (designated hitter), Oh Ji-hwan (shortstop), Park Dong-won (catcher), Moon Bo-kyung (third baseman), Moon Sung-joo (left fielder) and Shin Min-jae (second baseman). Ace Casey Kelly started on the mound.
Lotte countered Kelly with a batting order of Go Seung-min (first base)-Yoon Dong-hee (right field)-Rex (left field)-Jeon Jun-woo (designated hitter)-Ahn Chi-hong (second base)-Han Dong-hee (third base)-Park Seung-wook (shortstop)-Yoo Kang-nam (catcher)-Kim Min-seok (middle infield). ‘Glasses Ace’ Park Se-woong took the mound with the task of stopping the losing streak.
The game was a pitcher’s duel. LG Kelly shut down Lotte in the first inning with a three-hit shutout, then pitched a four-hit shutout until the sixth inning. He was not without his ups and downs (runners on first and second in the second inning, runners on first and second in the third inning, runners on first and second in the fourth inning, and runners on second and first in the sixth inning), but he continued to pitch aggressively.
Park Se-woong was also in great form. After retiring the LG offence in order in the first and second innings, he showed off his sharp stuff by retiring eight consecutive batters before allowing Moon Sung-joo to reach first base with a single up the middle in the bottom of the third. He didn’t allow a single runner to reach base through the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
The game changed in the seventh inning. After Han Dong-hee led off the top of the seventh with a single to right, Lotte immediately brought in pinch-hitter Jang Doo-sung. However, the next batter, Park Seung-wook, failed to score as he hit a pitcher-first baseman-base runner double play.
LG took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Leadoff hitter Hong Chang-ki singled to left, and a batter later, Kim Hyun-soo singled up the middle to put runners on third and fourth with Austin at the plate.
Park Se-woong induced a grounder to Austin at second base, but Austin sprinted to first base after the hit to prevent a double play. In the meantime, Hong Chang-ki crossed home plate to give LG a 1-0 lead. The Lotte bench requested a video review of Austin’s safe first base call, but it didn’t change the outcome.
Lotte quickly responded. In the top of the eighth inning, leadoff hitter Yoo Kang-nam singled to left and pinch-hitter Hwang Sung-bin was brought in, putting runners on first and second with a sacrifice bunt by Kim Min-seok. At that point, Hwang collided with LG shortstop Oh Ji-hwan at second base, and Lotte manager Larry Sutton protested the interference.
The four umpires agreed and ruled that Hwang Sung-bin was obstructing a runner, allowing him to advance to third base. LG manager Yeom Kyung-yeop took to the field and made a strong appeal, but the call was overturned with runners on first and third.
Lotte capitalised on the opportunity. Go Seung-min hit an outfield sacrifice fly to score Hwang Sung-bin and tie the game at 1-1.
With momentum on their side, Lotte took down LG closer Ko Woo-seok in the top of the ninth. After a leadoff walk to Jeon Jun-woo, Ahn Chi-hong singled to left to put runners on first and third, and Park Seung-wook followed with an RBI double to make it 2-1.
Lotte held on to the one-run lead. Closer Kim Won-joong put an end to LG’s last stand. Park Se-woong’s eight innings of one-run relief and Park Seung-wook’s game-winning hit snapped a three-game losing streak.