It is an all-out effort.
SSG Landers will play a home game against NC Dinos in the second game of the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO postseason semi-playoffs at SSG Landers Field in Incheon on the 23rd.
In the first game held in Incheon on the 22nd, they lost 3-4. They suffered the first loss in the best-of-five series. We must win this second game to balance the score at 1 win and 1 loss to ease the burden on the players. The third game will be held at NC’s home, Changwon NC Park. If the 4th game is held, it will also have to be played in Changwon.
In Game 1, starting pitcher Roenis Elias played well in 8 innings, allowing 4 hits (1 home run), no walks, 6 strikeouts, and 2 runs while pitching 88 pitches. However, the batting line was unable to capitalize on several chances and suffered defeat. Next, Noh Kyung-eun allowed two runs in ⅓ innings, and Seo Jin-yong allowed no runs in ⅔ innings.
SSG had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the 3rd and 4th inning in Game 1 with no outs on first and second base, but failed to score a single run. In the top of the 8th inning, Elias hit a two-run home run from opposing pinch hitter Kim Seong-wook, making it 0-2. In the bottom of the 8th inning, SSG made up 1 point with Choi Jeong’s sacrifice fly with 1 out and 2nd and 3rd bases. The score was 1-2.
In the top of the 9th inning, Noh Kyung-eun hit a timely hit from Jason Martin with one out and a runner on third base, making it 1-3. Closing pitcher Seo Jin-yong, who made a relief appearance, also allowed a timely hit to Seo Ho-cheol with two outs and second base. The score was 1-4.
SSG faced opposing closing pitcher Lee Yong-chan in the bottom of the 9th inning. Hanyu Island’s hit and Ha Jae-hoon’s two-run home run brought the score up to 3-4. Afterwards, Choi Ji-hoon hit a fly ball to the shortstop on the first pitch, Seong-Hyun Kim hit a fly ball to the second baseman on the second pitch, and pinch hitter Kim Kang-min struck out after 4 pitches, so they could not get any further than that.
We have to counterattack in the second game. SSG coach Kim Won-hyung said, “First we have to score,” and “Starting pitchers Seung-won Moon and Kirk McCarty will be waiting in the bullpen.”
The following is a Q&A with director Kim Won-hyung.
▲Starting lineup composition and reasons.
It has changed a little. Choo Shin-soo (designated hitter) – Choi Joo-hwan (first baseman) – Choi Jeong (third baseman) – Guillermo Heredia (center fielder) – Han Yu-seom (right fielder) – Ha Jae-hoon (left fielder) – Park Seong-han (shortstop) – Kim Seong-hyun (second baseman) – Kim Min-sik (catcher) ) is in that order. Choo Shin-soo originally batted first. There are a total of four people in the outfield, including the designated hitter. To put it simply, yesterday (the 22nd), (Ha) Jae-hoon replaced (Chu) Shin-soo. Jaehoon hit a home run yesterday and has a good hitting feel, so (Choi) Jihoon was left out today and Shinsoo came in as the designated hitter.
▲Elias pitched well yesterday, but it’s unfortunate that he didn’t hit a home run.
He threw it so well. He also said that it was because of his own ball before practice. Well done though. I think the important point of yesterday’s game was that we had a chance to score early on, but we couldn’t connect there.
Elias said his back felt a little stiff after pitching the 7th inning. He checked in the 8th inning and asked me to prepare, but after pitching the 8th inning, he ended up being replaced in the 9th inning. It is said that there is no major problem today (23rd). I don’t think there will be any problems with his appearance in the next game.메이저놀이터
▲Are there any changes to pitcher management, etc.?
The big change is… . Oh Won-seok will be selected as the starting pitcher for Game 3, and Seung-won Moon will be selected for Game 4. But I think I should watch the game today. (Moon) Seungwon’s role may be slightly bigger. If (Kim) Gwang-hyun plays his role well today, we can take a day off tomorrow (24th) and move on to Changwon without much wasting (of the pitching staff). Otherwise, Seungwon will wait in the bullpen again today, just like yesterday.
▲Is McCarty on standby in the bullpen today?
I have to wait.
▲The important points of the second game are:
You have to score points. Instead of going until the 7th, 8th, or 9th inning, you have to score early so the pitchers behind you can pitch without pressure. Points must be deducted.
▲It seems a shame that the scoring opportunity in the first game was wasted.
With such a good scoring chance, the game could have been different if they had scored even one point first. I think it happened in the end because we couldn’t score and kept playing evenly.
▲After Ha Jae-hoon’s home run in the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 1, it was unfortunate that Choi Ji-hoon’s fly ball to shortstop on the first pitch was out.
Always order an aggressive strike. Players with good hitting ability can respond well after 2 strikes, but otherwise, it is not easy to hit after 2 strikes. So I always wanted to be aggressive in pitching and batting. Yesterday, I hit a ball on a course that was too good and a fly ball came out, so I hope I don’t feel intimidated by that.
From the outside, it could be said that the atmosphere was calmed down, but there is nothing wrong with that. If you shrink from that and are not aggressive at bat, I don’t think you will be able to survive in a big game. Lee Yong-chan was not a pitcher without control, but was the opponent’s closer. When a pitcher’s control is unstable or the ball moves back and forth, the bench is also disappointed when he hits the first pitch and is out, but that wasn’t the case yesterday. Jihoon Choi plans to use him today as a pinch runner, as a defender, or if there is a situation where he needs to hit.
▲In the top of the 9th inning of Game 1, Minwoo Park was allowed to steal third base and Jason Martin was allowed to steal second base.
Given the timing, it appears that (Park Min-woo) was good at stealing bases as he gave up 3rd base from 2nd base. (Seo) Jinyong’s pitching form is a bit big. I think he took advantage of that. He must not get a hit after two outs. He may allow a stolen base. Both last year and the year before, the issue of allowing stolen bases was very big. Unless people change right away, you have to take risks. I think this is something that can be resolved if pitchers pay a little more attention and help.
▲The players who did not appear in the 2nd game and the starting pitchers for the 3rd and 4th games.
The players who did not appear are Elias, who pitched yesterday, and Oh Won-seok, the starting pitcher for Game 3. The reason Wonseok is in Game 3 is, he throws well. He gained experience and pitched well in the Korean Series last year. He joined the team in October of this year and has also been seen throwing the ball normally. It got better. Seung-won Moon is the starter, but yesterday and today’s games were important, so he was put on standby in the bullpen. If there was a problem with the starters, I was going to bring him in right away, but Elias played so well yesterday that I didn’t get the timing to pitch him.