Lotte head coach Larry Sutton has a saying after every win.바카라사이트
“We won with one team,” he says. It’s not always true.
But on the 27th, when he resigned, it was real. They did indeed win with one team. They came back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth, and then won a thrilling 5-3 comeback victory on a two-run homer by Yoo Kang-nam.
The 2023 KBO League game between the Samsung Lions and Lotte Giants was held at Sajik Stadium in Busan on the 27th. In the ninth inning, with runners on first and second and Lotte’s Ahn Chi-hong batting, Jeon Jun-woo runs to third base to be safe after Samsung’s Lee Seung-hyun’s throw was missed. Busan=Sang-wook Heo wook@sportschosun.com/2023.06.27/
▶”The best defense is the best defense”
In the top of the ninth inning, Jeon and Rex drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Jun-woo Jeon, the second baseman, concentrated and ran to third base while Lee Seung-hyun’s bound ball bounced briefly in front of the catcher. Runners at first and second became first and third on Ahn Chi-hong’s grounder to third. Tied 3-3.
A double play ensued. Yoo Kang-nam said, “I didn’t think I had to finish it. I was just trying to get it to Seung-wook (Park) behind me. At the plate, I was only thinking about the timing,” he said. That mindless batting approach led to the game-winning home run.
“I hit the game-winning home run, but before that, I think Jun-woo should be recognized more than me because he made a really bold outfield play from second to third base,” Yoo said, giving a thumbs-up.
▶Debutant starter and seven bullpen members “no quit”
Eight pitchers were also up to the task.
Jung Sung-jong, making his first start in six seasons, pitched four scoreless innings of relief to set the stage for the victory. Seven relievers were called upon to help secure the win. In the eighth, Koo Seung-min worked out of a bases-loaded jam. Closer Kim Won-joong, who took the mound in the ninth with a one-run deficit, retired the side in order with two strikeouts to set the tone for the bottom of the ninth.
Catcher Yoo Kang-nam, who led the pitchers, said, “All the players really wanted to keep going, and I think we finished the ninth inning with that mindset.”
A captain’s meeting amidst the chaos of coaching changes in the wake of a sailing rumor
The day a major coaching change was made shortly after the news broke. By the end of the week, the team had forgotten all about its six-game winning streak and was down to a 5 percent chance of winning the series. Captain Ahn Chi-hong rallied the team before the game.
“I told the players, ‘Don’t worry about it at all, let’s do the best we can. He gave us the message that we shouldn’t give up on the baseball field, and Junwoo said that we shouldn’t let the atmosphere bother us and just do our job. With the most senior player telling us this, I think our players didn’t care about anything else and did their best in today’s game.”
Yoo Kang-nam, who hit the game-winning home run, said. He said, “It was bad before, but I think this is the beginning. I want to reset and focus more on future games,” he said. It was a story that represented Lotte’s current situation.
Sometimes life’s miracles come from serendipitous events. In the toughest moments, solutions magically appear.
Today’s game, focusing on each moment. After hitting rock bottom in June, Lotte Baseball may be able to rebound. The only answer lies in completing a true one-man team.