One shot from a veteran led to victory. KIA Tigers outfielder Choi Hyung-woo thrilled fans with a pinch-hit grand slam.메이저사이트
KIA won 12-7 in the second game of the double header against the LG Twins in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League held at Gwangju-KIA Champions Field on the 9th, winning two consecutive games following a 7-6 win in the first game. Thanks to this, the ranking also rose one level from 5th to 4th. The season record was 59 wins, 2 draws, and 52 losses.
Choi Hyung-woo, who started in the first game, waited on the bench to maintain his stamina in the second game. Then, an opportunity came in the bottom of the 5th inning with bases loaded and no outs, and KIA boldly hired Choi Hyeong-woo as a pinch hitter while Hwang Dae-in was at bat. The bench was hoping for a shot from the veteran.
Choi Hyung-woo pulled Park Myung-geun’s fourth fastball with the ball count 2-1, and the batted ball went over the right wall. According to the KIA team, this is the eighth time Choi Hyung-woo has hit a grand slam. It is the second pinch-hit home run in his career, and the first pinch-hit home run since his professional debut.
KIA, who gained momentum thanks to Choi Hyeong-woo’s grand slam, drove in the bottom of the 6th inning with Na Seong-beom’s two-run shot, clearly breaking LG’s will to chase. KIA coach Kim Jong-guk also praised Choi Hyung-woo, saying, “Choi Hyung-woo was able to completely bring the atmosphere to our side by hitting a grand slam as a pinch hitter. He exceeded the coach’s expectations.”
After the game, Choi Hyung-woo said, “I feel good because we played well in both games of the doubleheader against the first-place team. Many fans came to the stadium and showed great support from the first game, but I felt that we had to do even better today.” “It’s been a while since we played a doubleheader, and it’s true that I was tired. But since the opposing team was playing under the same conditions, I thought we had to overcome it,” he said.
Choi Hyeong-woo, who recovered the home run situation, said, “I went to bat as a pinch hitter, but Ko Jong-wook made an RBI in front of me, so I was able to go to bat more comfortably. Even if I get out anyway, it’s 1 out, and (our team) can continue the attack. “Because of the situation, I thought about taking my swing comfortably rather than attacking with a certain target, and I think it led to a good result as it led to a good hit,” he explained.
Lastly, Choi Hyung-woo said, “I am the most senior member of the team, but rather than giving baseball advice to the players, I try to create a good atmosphere in the dugout by cheering them on. Even the junior players have their own views on baseball established to some extent. “I think my role in the dugout is limited to that. If I play games with younger players in a good atmosphere, my grades will naturally follow, and I think I will be able to start fall baseball at a higher level,” he said. I shared my thoughts.