Park Byung-ho, the “national slugger” of the Samsung Lions in the Korean Baseball Organization, exploded with his bat. He hit a single that knocked out Gisun and helped his team win the game. Park Byung-ho hit his 22nd home run of the season in the first inning of a home game against the Kiwoom Heroes at Samsung Lions Park in Daegu on April 22.
Samsung had runners on first and second with no outs in the first inning after Kim Ji-chan singled and Yoon Jung-bin walked. After Koo Jae-rook grounded out to center field, Lewin Diaz struck out on a three-pitch wild pitch. Park Byung-ho came to the plate. On a 2B-1S pitch count against Kiwoom ace Ariel Hurtado, he swung hard at a four-seam fastball (146 mph) for a three-run shot to left-center field. The ball traveled 120 meters.
Samsung, who could have easily lost the momentum, responded with a single from Park Byung-ho. He retired the side in the fourth and sixth innings on infield grounders, but his first at-bat in the first inning was enough.
Samsung defeated Kiwoom 9-8 to clinch a spot in the playoffs.
“It was an important game, and it was nice to get a home run to take the lead,” Park said with a smile after the game, ”and it was good to see that it helped us stay in the game and decide second place.
“The best thing about coming to Samsung this season is that I adapted well to the team and wanted to play fun baseball with the players again, 카지노사이트 and I’m accomplishing that,” said Oh, who became a new member of Samsung through a one-for-one trade with KT Wiz infielder Jae-il Oh on May 28. “I’m excited to be with these guys, and I want to do really well,” he added, ”because we’re going to meet good players and prepare for bigger goals together.
Won Tae-in, the ‘Blue Bloods’ ace, started the game and pitched six innings of five hits, one walk, five strikeouts and one run to earn his 15th career win. “Every time I pitch, (Park) Byung-ho hits me really hard,” he said. It could have gone badly from the first inning, but he took care of it, so I was able to relax and pitch well,” he said.
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Coach Park Jin-man said, “Today, in front of a full house at home, the entire team hoped that we would be able to finalize the standings on our own. Won Tae-in, our best card to win the game, fulfilled that wish perfectly.”
He also praised captain Koo Ja-uk for his back-to-back home runs and Park Byung-ho for his three-run blast that knocked out Gisun. “Gu, who had his best performance of the season, made his presence felt at the right time when we needed him to push the momentum, and Byung-ho Park hit a home run that gave us the early momentum,” Park said.