Lotte falls to another home run, ‘losing series’ as July begins
The Lotte Giants of the Korean Baseball Organization have been hit by home runs in two consecutive games. The team has been in a “losing streak” since the start of July, and there are concerns that the team will return to its downward spiral like it did in June. Lotte will face the Hanwha Eagles, who have won eight straight games, in a three-game series in the middle of the week.
Lotte dropped a 2-4 decision to Doosan at Munsu Baseball Stadium in Ulsan on April 2. Starter Dan Straily gave up two runs in five innings before the bats tied the game. However, Koo Seung-min gave up a two-run home run to Yang Suk-hwan, which ultimately led to the loss.
Lotte Giants’ Yoon Dong-hee bats against Doosan in a baseball game at Munsu Baseball Stadium in Ulsan on Feb. 2. Courtesy of the Lotte Giants
The two teams continued their fierce pitching battle from the previous day. In the top of the fifth inning, Lotte starter Straylor was hit by a leadoff single by Rojas. He then struck out Yang Chan-yeol, but gave up a walk to Lee Yoo-chan to put runners on first and second. The next batter, Jung Soo-bin, gave up a fielder’s choice to put runners on the corners. After giving up an RBI double to Heo Kyung-min, Straily struck out Kim Jae-hwan Yang-ji to end the inning.메이저놀이터
Lotte got one back right away. In the top of the fifth, leadoff hitter Jeon Jun-woo led off with a single. Park Seung-wook and Han Dong-hee retired the next two batters with a walk and a single, respectively, but Hwang Sung-bin stole second base and scored on a single by Jeon, giving Lotte a 1-2 lead.
Baseball’s Lotte Giants’ Park Seung-wook fields against Doosan at Munsu Baseball Stadium in Ulsan on Feb. 2. Courtesy of the Lotte Giants
Lotte tied the game in the sixth inning. Go Seung-min led off with a single. After taking second on Yoon Dong-hee’s sacrifice bunt, Ko came home on Rex’s single. Jeon Jun-woo grounded out to end the threat. The score was tied again at 2-2.
However, the balance was short-lived. Lotte gave up a home run in the eighth inning, giving Doosan a two-run lead again. LOTTE’s Seung-min Koo gave up a leadoff single to Yang Ji Hyun and was immediately followed by a two-run home run to Yang Seok-hwan.
Lotte starter Straily gave up two runs (two earned) on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts in five innings. He only threw 81 pitches before being pulled early and replaced by Kim Sang-soo. The last time Straily went more than six innings was on June 6 against the Sajik KIA. In that game, Straily pitched seven innings with eight strikeouts and two runs. However, he failed to exceed six innings in four consecutive games, resulting in a slight increase in his ERA in June compared to May.
Lotte activated its bullpen in the sixth inning. Kim Sang-soo took the mound as the first reliever. After walking and striking out Yang Sung-hwan and Kang Seung-ho, respectively, he gave up back-to-back singles to Rojas Yang Chan-yeol. Fortunately, he struck out Lee Yoo-chan to prevent him from advancing to third base. Kim Sang-soo was replaced after one scoreless inning.
Lotte Giants’ Kim Jin-wook throws a ball in relief against Doosan at Munsu Baseball Stadium in Ulsan on Feb. 2. Courtesy of the Lotte Giants
In the seventh inning, Kim took the mound. He struck out Jung Soo-bin, Heo Kyung-min, and Kim Jae-hwan to end the inning. After giving up a two-run homer in the eighth, Koo Seung-min retired the next three batters to end the inning without allowing another run.
Lotte’s final pitcher, Jung Seong-jong, allowed the tying run to reach base. After giving up a walk to leadoff hitter Lee Yoo-chan, Jung gave up a sacrifice bunt to Jeong Soo-bin to move Lee to second base. Kim Jae-hwan loaded the bases with runners at the corners by walking Heo Kyung-min and allowing assistant Kim Soo-hyun to hit a high fly ball and a groundout, respectively, but he struck out Yang Seok-hwan to end the inning without giving up a run.
Lotte will face Hanwha at Daejeon’s Hanwha Life Eagles Park from April 4-6.