[Jamsil=Sports Chosun reporter Kim Young-rok] “It was fantastic. It was an all-star pitch.”
He took the mound with the 스포츠토토 fate of his team on his shoulders. And he exuded that sense of mission with his performance on the mound.
The Lotte Giants won the seventh game of the season against the LG Twins at Jamsil Stadium on March 23, 2-1, thanks to Park’s eight innings of one-run ball and a batting lineup that scored one run each in the eighth and ninth innings to turn the game around.
On the day, Park held the LG bats to just three hits and one run. In the third inning, Moon Sung-joo led off with a single, but was caught stealing second base by Yoo Kang-nam. Through the first, second, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, no player other than Moon reached base.
The bottom of the seventh inning was disappointing. LG’s leadoff hitter, Hong Chang-ki, gave up a single to Kim Hyun-soo. With runners on first and third, Austin sprinted to first base on an infield grounder and was safe at first. It was a close call even with video review, but the umpires were unable to overturn the first base save.
However, the Lotte bats took the pressure off the ace’s shoulders. In the bottom of the eighth, Yoo Kang-nam led off with a single and Kim Min-seok bunted. The pinch runner, Hwang Sung-bin, collided with LG shortstop Oh Ji-hwan while rounding second base and advanced to third, and Ko Seung-min tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
In the top of the ninth, Park Seung-wook’s game-winning hit turned the tide, and Mamura Kim Won-joong induced a bases-loaded walk to end the game.
“It was a must-win game,” said LOTTE head coach Larry Sutton, “but it was a good result and gave us a chance to bounce back. Se-woong Park pitched a fantastic, all-star performance. Our defense was also a big part of his great pitching,” said Sutton.
“The batters kept fighting and trying to create chances, and when it mattered most, Seung-wook Park came through with a big hit to win the game. I’m happy that our players showed their willingness to repay the tremendous support of our fans with a win.”