KT’s Lee Ji-sung broke a nine-game losing streak and recorded his first win on time.
The right-hander took the mound against Samsung at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on April 26, and after seven starts without a win and four losses with a 5.73 ERA, he pitched 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball with four hits, one walk, three strikeouts and one unearned run. He topped out at 148 mph and mixed in a slider, changeup, and curveball. Of his 78 total pitches, 48 were strikes.
In the first inning, Kim Hyun-jun reached on an error by the second baseman to put runners in scoring position. Kim Dong-jin laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners at first and third. Jose Pirela grounded out to third for the second out. Kang Min-ho singled up the middle to score a run. Oh Jae-il grounded to second to end the inning. 메이저사이트
After retiring Koo Ja-woo (grounder to shortstop), Kim Tae-gun (grounder to third), and Lee Jae-hyun (grounder to second) in the second inning, Lee struck out the leadoff batter, Kim Young-woong, with a swinging strikeout. He gave up a single to left-center to Kim Hyun-jun, but induced Kim Dong-jin into a double play to end the inning.
In the fourth, he allowed a fielding error and a stolen base to put runners on second and third, but induced a grounder to first to end the inning. After giving up a leadoff walk to Kim Tae-gun in the fifth, Lee retired Lee Jae-hyun, Kim Young-woong, and Kim Hyun-joon.
In the sixth inning, Lee gave up a leadoff single to Kim Dong-jin. When Pirela grounded to second, Kim was thrown out at second. Kang Min-ho followed with a single to left, putting runners on first and second. KT’s bench sent Jeon Won-joo to the mound in place of Choi Byeol-sung. The new pitcher walked Oh Jae-il to load the bases. He gave up a single to Koo Ja-rook, but got Kim Tae-gun to fly out to center field to end the inning.
KT beat Samsung 4-1 to extend its winning streak to three games since June 24 against Suwon Kiwoom. Lee, who made his first start in 350 days after breaking a 10-game losing streak against Sajik Lotte on June 10 last year, said, “I calculated it and it was my ninth straight personal loss until today. Before today’s game, I really wanted to win with the mindset that I shouldn’t lose 10 games in a row. I’m also happy that I won my first start in a year,” she said.
“I’m getting a lot of balance now, which is having a positive effect on my pitches. There were also concerns about the binding that fell from the periphery, but I reassured them that it might be different from the binding shown on the broadcast and that they shouldn’t worry because I don’t have any pain now thanks to the training part.
Choi also said, “I’m throwing aggressively with good balance after the second inning. My strikeouts have decreased, so I hope to pitch as many innings as possible with this form.”
He also talked about former Rookie of the Year Choi Min-joon, who had to end his season due to a right elbow injury. “For a few years, when I traveled away, I was roommates with (So), and we had a lot of fun developing each other. I feel empty and miss him, but I believe he will come back healthy next year. I won’t put any pressure on myself, but I will try to improve myself by fulfilling my responsibilities.”