Doosan Bears’ foreign player Jose Rojas, who hit the first home run in the 2023 postseason, was replaced due to a bruise during the game.
Rojas started as the number 3 designated hitter in the first game of the wild card game against the NC Dinos in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League postseason held at Changwon NC Park on the 19th, with no runners on base and one out in the top of the third inning when the team was ahead 2-0. He recorded his first postseason home run this season.
Rojas, who recorded a double from his first at-bat in the top of the first inning, hit a solo home run over the right wall by hitting Tanner’s 8-pitch, 128 km/h slider after a full-count match against NC starter Tanner Turley. This was the first home run in the postseason for Rojas, who appeared in 122 regular season games and recorded 102 hits, 65 RBIs, 52 runs, and a batting average of 0.253.
In the top of the first inning, Doosan scored the first run when Yang Eui-ji grounded out on a chance to 2nd and 3rd with one out on Kim Jae-ho’s infield hit and Rojas’ double to right, and in the top of the second inning, Kang Seung-ho’s hit to left led to Kim In-tae’s double to right to score an additional run. succeeded in Then, led by Rojas’ home run, Doosan took a 3-point lead over NC.
However, starting pitcher Kwak Bin hit a grand slam to Seo Ho-cheol and a solo home run to Kim Hyeong-jun in the bottom of the fourth inning, allowing back-to-back home runs and leaving the mound. He struck out leader Park Min-woo with a curveball, but allowed Park Geon-woo to walk. After Martin’s grounder to shortstop, Kwon Hee-dong was hit to right, and Kim Joo-won was walked again, leaving the bases loaded with two outs. And then Seo Ho-cheol hit a grand slam. A 3-pitch, 148km/h fastball was hit.
In a situation where the score was 3-4 thanks to Seo Ho-cheol’s home run, Kwak Bin also hit a home run to Kim Hyeong-jun, allowing back-to-back home runs. The 137km/h slider went over the left wall. Kwak Bin continued to be shaken after giving a walk to Do Tae-hoon, and the Doosan bench eventually decided to replace the pitcher.
While Doosan allowed a 3-5 comeback, Doosan used Kim Jae-hwan as a pinch hitter instead of Rojas in the top of the 5th inning when Kim Jae-ho walked. The problem was the foot that was hit by a foul ball before hitting a home run in the previous at-bat. An official from the Doosan club said, “Rojas was replaced due to a bruise on the instep of his right foot. He is currently receiving icing.”
However, Doosan immediately brought the game back to square one. Kim Jae-hwan, who came on as a pinch hitter, got on base with a single to left and made up for one point with a timely hit from pitcher Lee Jae-hak, Yang Eui-ji, who changed from 1st and 2nd base with no outs. After Lee Jae-hak’s wild pitch, Kim Jae-hwan even homered when Kang Seung-ho grounded out, balancing the score at 5-5 again.
Before the game, coach Lee Seung-yeop said about Kim Jae-hwan’s exclusion from the starting lineup due to a hand injury, “Since he hasn’t played a few recent games, he thought that if he suddenly starts, his game sense and other aspects might be a bit of a problem, so today (Kim) In-tae “I put it in,” he explained.
Manager Lee said, “I thought about sending in a pinch hitter the day before yesterday because his condition had improved, but it seems he wasn’t good enough to play in the game. I asked for his opinion, and I was told that although it’s not perfect yet, he’s improved a lot.” Kim Jae-hwan said that he had a difficult time. I did my part at the plate.스포츠토토
Meanwhile, 5th place Doosan started the wild card match in a disadvantageous situation compared to 4th place NC. If we lose the first game, fall baseball is over. In past wild card games, there have been cases where the 5th place team in the regular season took the game to the second game, but there was no ‘upset’ in which the 5th place team advanced to the semi-playoffs. Doosan is aiming for that ‘miracle’ this fall.
If Doosan wins the first game, the second game of the wild card match will be held on the 20th. And if Doosan defeats NC until the second game, the history of the first ‘upset’ in KBO history as the 5th place team in the regular season will be written. Doosan plans to nominate Brandon Waddell as the starting pitcher if the second game is held.
In the semi-playoffs, SSG Landers, who finished the regular season in 3rd place, awaits in the final match. Doosan suffered a 2-3 defeat against Jamsil SSG on the 16th, confirming its final 5th place with one game left in the regular season, and Doosan suffered a complete 0-5 defeat against Munhak SSG on the 17th, putting SSG in 3rd place and NC in 4th place. has been covered.
