While KIA’s triple-setter was missing, Doosan’s unique footwork lit up the field.
Doosan swept the Gwangju KIA on the 15th and the 17th to extend its winning streak to six games. KIA has upgraded its batting lineup since the middle of the season with a combination of mobility, clutch ability, and long balls, and has won nine straight games, but the injury to Park Chan-ho has taken a toll. Choi Won-jun has also been struggling with his bat, and there have been many days when he hasn’t been at full strength.
Choi Won-jun got the momentum going with three hits, including a double, in the second spot in the batting order, but was held to a 0-for-5 performance by Kim Do-young, who batted leadoff. Park Chan-ho hasn’t started since the 12th against Daegu Samsung Electronics. After a nine-game winning streak, the batting lineup’s cycle naturally descended during the slump to 3-6, including four straight losses.
In the meantime, Doosan put on a bunting and bunt show. It was a traditional Doosan game, with the colors of old. No. 9 Cho Su-hyun (30) and No. 1 Jeong Soo-bin (33) virtually stunned the KIA infield with their game-changing bunts.메이저사이트
It was the top of the third inning with the score tied 1-1. With the bases loaded, Cho laid down an exquisite bunt toward third base on a cutter from KIA starting pitcher Thomas Pannoni. KIA third baseman Byun Woo-hyuk spotted it, darted forward and made a good catch, but Cho made a head-first slide to first for the save.
Byun Woo-hyuk reacted well. But two batters later, he couldn’t catch Kim Jae-ho’s pitch and let it go into the outfield. An error. Yang Seok-hwan’s final hit came next. Cho’s bunt single shook up the KIA infield and the game.
Doosan’s bunt show continued in the fifth inning with a 3-1 lead. Park Jun-young continued the good momentum with a solo home run, and Cho Su-hyun followed with a single. Jung Soo-bin then laid down an exquisite bunt down the first base line. Panoni and catcher Han Jun-soo simultaneously darted for the ball, which Panoni would have caught, but Han Jun-soo caught the ball and was unable to throw to first base. In the situation, Han Jun-soo shouted the call, but Jung Soo-bin laughed.
With runners on first and second, Kim Jae-ho’s sacrifice bunt and Yang Suk-hwan’s RBI double gave Doosan a 5-1 lead. KIA tried to rally with a two-run single by Na Sung-bum, but the two bunts kept the game in Doosan’s favor.
In the sixth inning, shortstop Kim Do-young made a throwing error on Park Joon-young’s hit, and in the seventh, Kim Dae-yoo made an easy catch on Jeong Soo-bin’s hit, but was stranded at first base. Doosan ace Raul Alcantara couldn’t get the bases loaded, but three errors made it difficult to win.
Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop said, “The batters played evenly and showed a cohesive performance. I can feel that the whole team is working together. Every game is important, and we will do our best to show our fans how good we are right now.”
Article provided by My Daily
