SSG Landers was knocked out in the first game of the semi-playoffs. SSG was pushed back at the end of the game despite the excellent performance of starting pitcher Elias. In particular, the decisive additional run that led to two stolen bases in the top of the 9th inning inflicted an inevitable fatal injury on SSG in the 9th inning.
SSG played the first semi-playoff game against NC Dinos held at Munhak SSG Landers Field on October 22 and lost 3 to 4.
SSG coach Kim Won-hyung met with reporters before the game on the 22nd and said, “The opponent’s top batting lineup is good, so the starting lineup must block well first. In addition, I think we need to pay attention to the slugging power and connection shown in the lower batting lineup during the wild card game. “This is my first time personally in a situation where we have to move up in the postseason. If we continue the concentration we showed in the battle for rankings at the end of the regular season, we will be able to achieve good results,” he said.
As coach Kim expected, SSG starting pitcher Elias pitched perfectly, holding NC’s batting line scoreless until the 7th inning. Thanks to this, SSG continued the tight 0-0 trend until the 7th inning.
However, in the top of the 8th inning, with one out and one on first base, Elias’ first-pitch changeup to pinch hitter Kim Seong-wook led to a two-run home run that went over the left-center wall, ultimately allowing the first run.
SSG, who launched a counterattack, scored back-to-back runs in the bottom of the 8th inning with back-to-back hits by pinch hitters Choo Shin-soo and Choi Joo-hwan, and Choi Jeong’s sacrifice fly ball by left fielder on Park Seong-han’s sacrifice bunt with one out on second and third base. However, the follow-up batter, Heredia, struck out on a missed swing and failed to tie the game.
In the top of the 9th inning, when Park Min-woo’s hit to right, Do Tae-hoon’s sacrifice bunt, and Park Min-woo’s 3rd base steal led to a crisis with one out and 3rd base, SSG gave up a painful additional run when Martin hit an RBI single to right. Closing pitcher Seo Jin-yong took the mound, but even in the ensuing crisis with 2 outs and runners on base, he hit a timely hit with 1 RBI from Seo Ho-cheol.
SSG started chasing Ha Jae-hoon’s two-run home run in the bottom of the 9th inning, but failed to create an opportunity to score additional points and lost by one point.
In the end, the extra run allowed in the top of the 9th inning was the fatal blow. SSG used pinch hitter Choo Shin-soo when leadoff hitter Kim Min-sik was at bat in the bottom of the 8th inning. Catcher Lee Jae-won was brought in for defense in the top of the 9th inning. In the top of the 9th inning, with one out and two on base, second base runner Park Min-woo succeeded in stealing third base. SSG ultimately chose to play forward in the infield, and Martin scored an RBI with a ground ball between first and second base.
Afterwards, SSG fell into a scoring crisis as they allowed Martin, the runner on first base, to steal second base. Even though closing pitcher Seo Jin-yong was brought in, the score gap widened to 1 to 4 when Seo Ho-cheol hit a timely hit with 1 RBI after 2 outs. Allowing two stolen bases led to a fatal additional run.스포츠토토
Jaewon Lee recorded a steal blocking rate of 17.9% this season (23 steals allowed, 5 steals blocked). Cho Hyung-woo, who played the role of backup catcher along with Lee Jae-won, achieved a steal blocking rate of 39.6% (29 stolen bases allowed, 19 stolen bases blocked) this season. Cho Hyung-woo had the upper hand when it came to blocking stolen bases, but the SSG bench chose veteran catcher Lee Jae-won’s track record. As a result, the insertion of Lee Jae-won was an unfortunate choice that resulted in two crucial stolen bases and a lost run.
Coach Kim Won-hyung said after the game, “I thought that the 2-run gap in the top of the 9th inning was large and that if the gap widened to 3 runs, it would be difficult to catch up in one inning. (Roh) Gyeong-eun played very well during the season, but he had a bit of a loss, so I brought up (Seo) Jin-yong to avoid giving him 1 point. The result was a timely hit after 2 outs. “That’s how the situation turned out,” he said, expressing deep regret.
It is curious whether the SSG bench, which suffered a blow in the first game, will make changes to the starting lineup and management in the second half of the game in the second game on the 23rd.
