Joo-hyung Lee’s triple and Byeong-wook Lim’s 3-run homer added to catch the flow, and the bullpen’s strong pitching secured the victory 메이저놀이터. The harmony of pitching became the foundation for a winning streak. The Kiwoom command tower also generously applauded the players’ performance.
Kiwoom won 6-2 on the first day of the 2023 KBO League weekend against KT held at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on the 1st. With this, Kiwoom ran 2 consecutive victories, recording 49 wins, 3 draws and 70 losses in the season, leading Hanwha in 10th place (42 wins, 6 draws, 61 losses) by one game and getting out of the bottom of the league. Hanwha lost 0-10 to Jamsil LG and finished last.
After the game, Kiwoom coach Hong Won-ki said, “Lee Joo-hyung’s triple hit early on in the attack and brought the atmosphere, and Lim Byung-wook’s 3-run home run put a wedge for victory.” Thanks to blocking the opponent’s batting line well, not taking the flow led to victory,” he praised.
On this day, Kiwoom scored early and succeeded in suppressing the baseline. Lee Joo-hyung’s triple hit took the lead, and Lim Byung-wook’s 3-point final shot split the game. At the end of the first inning, Kiwoom’s lead batter Kim Tae-jin went on base with a right-handed hit. Kim Hye-seong and foreign hitter Ronnie Dawson struck out in a row and became 2 out and 1 base, but Kiwoom’s attack was the beginning. Song Seong-moon hit and got 2 out and 1st and 2nd base, and in the next at-bat, Lee Joo-hyung took a 2-0 lead by calling in all runners with a timely triple with 2 RBIs in the middle right.
Kiwoom made a big inning with 4 runs at the end of the 3rd inning. After one run, Song Seong-moon went to base with a left-handed hit, and Lee Joo-hyung’s double hit the runners to second and third bases with one out. The next hitter, Kim Hwi-jip, scored on a sacrifice fly by Song Seong-moon. In the ensuing attack, Lee Hyeong-jong got a walk and became 2nd and 1st and 2nd base, and Lim Byeong-wook hit a 115km changeup on the 5th pitch from KT starter Koh Young-pyo and hit a 3-run homer that went over the right fence to make the score 6-0.
Lee Joo-hyung, who pulled out the first point, led the team to victory by wielding 3 hits that day. Lee Joo-hyung said, “In front of the end of the first inning, other players created a scoring situation. It was good that the team was able to resolve critical situations. And it led to victory, so that was the happiest thing,” he said of his victory.
He said, “Since I am a left-handed batter, the ball of the under pitcher hits better. In addition, (Kim) Jae-woong hyung taught me how to attack senior Ko Young-pyo,” he said.
Kiwoom and pitchers, who succeeded in overpowering the baseline, also contributed to the victory by blocking the KT lineup well. Moreover, starting pitcher Jang Jae-young gave up 9 pitches, but allowed only 1 run thanks to the fielders’ defense. Although Jang Jae-young did not meet the victory requirements for a starter due to lack of 0.1 innings, he fought back with 2 hits, 9 walks, 4 strikeouts and 1 run (1 earned) in 4.2 innings.
Then, Seok-won Yoon, who was handed the mound, blocked 1.1 innings without conceding a run, and Seung-joo Park allowed 1 run due to wild throwing and a defensive error, but was responsible for 1 inning. In the 9th inning, Kim Jae-woong climbed the mound and ended the victory with a scoreless score for Kiwoom, whose scoreless inning was blocked by Moon Seong-hyun.