The score was tied 4-4 in the top of the eighth inning. They didn”t last a single inning. A costly error on a routine bunt defense led to the loss.
The Lotte Giants lost the first game of the second half of their opening series against the SSG Landers at SSG Landers Field in Incheon, South Korea, 4-7 on Monday after Kim Sang-soo’s throwing error in the bottom of the eighth inning gave up the winning run.
From the opening game of the second half, it was a battle between distribution rivals. However, Lotte was unable to erase the shadow of two straight losses at the end of the first half and fell into a three-game losing streak. With 35 wins, 43 losses and three draws, Lotte narrowly held on to eighth place as the ninth-ranked Hanwha Eagles also lost on the same day.
SSG Landers, on the other hand, jumped up to fifth place with 42 wins (42 L, 1 D) to match their five-game winning streak.
In a pregame meeting,
Lotte manager Kim Tae-hyung apologized to Han Hyun-hee, who has been bouncing between the starting lineup and the bullpen this season. “Originally, I was planning to add strength to the bullpen with Lee Min-seok, but I think I’ll have to use him as a starter. The starting staff is also not in good shape,” he said.
Earlier, SSG manager Lee Sung-yong said about the bench-clearing in the last game of the first half against the Changwon NC Dinos, “It happened because we were swearing at each other and misunderstandings accumulated,” and added, “I expressed my apologies to coach Kang In-hwa (NC) and the players from both sides. It’s in the past now.”
As for Keisho Shirakawa, who was offered by the Doosan Bears, he said, “I hope he does well at Doosan. I mean it. During the All-Star Game, Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop asked me a lot of things, so I told him the truth,” he said, adding, “I hope he doesn’t play against us, especially not against Elias.”
Lotte gave up a leadoff single to SSG Choi Ji-hoon in the top of the first inning. It was his sixth of the year, 362nd of his career, and second in the KBO. 카지노 커뮤니티 He took a 147-kilometer fastball from Han Hyun-hee over the right-field fence without missing a beat.
Lotte then gave up back-to-back doubles by Choi Jung-jeong and Park Sung-sung and an RBI single by Kim Min-sik, giving up three runs in the first inning alone. However, Han Hyun-hee was able to settle down in the second inning.
However, Lotte fought back.
Lotte missed a chance to put runners on first and second in the top of the first inning, and was disappointed when Son Sung-bin hit into a double play.
In the top of the third inning, the first two batters struck out, but Yoon Dong-hee walked and captain Jeon Jun-woo hit Elias’ second pitch, a 149-kilometer fastball, over the left-field fence for a two-run homer. The ninth of the season.
With this one home run, Jeon reached 2,900 career hits. 23rd in the KBO.
SSG quickly brought in 40-year-old pitcher Noh Kyung-eun in place of Elias in the bottom of the fifth inning. Noh pitched two scoreless innings to set the tone.
Han Hyun-hee took the mound for Lotte in the sixth inning, but was replaced by Jin Hae-soo after giving up a double to Choi Jung in the first batter. Jin then gave up an RBI single to Park Sung-hyun, putting Lotte down 2-4.
However, Lotte got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh thanks to Koo Seung-min, and scored two runs with two outs in the top of the eighth. Against SSG’s Cho Byung-hyun, Jeon Jun-woo singled, Reyes walked, and Na Seung-yup followed with an RBI single. A throwing error by the SSG right fielder allowed the runners to advance one base each, putting runners on second and third.
A wild pitch by SSG’s Moon Seung-won tied the game at 4-4. Elias’s victory was short-lived.
Lotte fell victim to an error in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Lotte brought in 37-year-old veteran pitcher Kim Sang-soo.
After a leadoff walk by Park Sung-yi and a sacrifice bunt by Kim Min-sik, Kim made a bad throw to first base. The ball sailed into the right-field corner, allowing Park to score the game-winning run, and Kim Min-sik to run to third.
Go Myung-joon followed with an RBI single and Choi Ji-hoon with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-7.
Lotte failed to score against Moon Seung-won in the top of the ninth inning. Two batters later, Park Seung-wook singled, but was unable to connect with a run.
“I think the players stayed focused until the end and got off to a good start in the second half,” SSG manager Lee Sung-yong said after the game.
“We pulled Elias early because of his Sunday start. He did his job well. Kyung-eun pitched two very good innings in a difficult situation,” he reflected.
“At the plate, Ji-hoon, Sung-han, and Jung-i had multi-hit games and contributed to the team’s victory,” he said. “I also want to thank our fans for sticking with us through the rainy weather.”