SSG’s best hustle defense saves Seo Jin-yong’s no-ball record and ends SSG’s five-game losing streak.
On the 20th, LG and SSG played at SSG Landers Field in Incheon. The game was tied 1-1 until the top of the eighth inning.
SSG scored a lucky run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Kim Kang-min, a pinch-hitter, was hit by a wild pitch from opposing pitcher Ko Woo-seok. 2-1 lead.
In the top of the ninth, closer Seo Jin-yong came on. He got the first batter, Hong Chang-ki, to fly out to left field and gave up a single to Shin Min-jae. Kim Hyun-soo walked and Shin Min-jae stole second. With runners on first and second, he struck out Kim Hyun-soo on a full count with an eight-pitch fastball to give himself a breather.
The runners advanced to second and third when Austin fought off a wild pitch. Austin hit a hard grounder to third that Choi leaped forward to catch, bent forward on a running throw, and threw to first. Choi fell to the ground and was disappointed to see the first base umpire’s safe/out call.
Austin celebrated with a gesture of joy, and the LG dugout erupted in cheers, while the SSG players were disappointed with the tie. But there was a twist. 메이저놀이터
SSG then requested a video replay, and the slow screen showed that Choi’s shot was faster than Austin’s foot. It was a close call. Austin was on first base when he saw the replay on the scoreboard and started walking to the dugout before the video review was finalized.
When the replay showed a safe call, the SSG players erupted in jubilation and celebrated their dramatic victory.
“I want to praise (Choi’s) defensive concentration at the end,” Kim Won-hyung said after the game.
Choi started at third base three times on the day, going 0-for-3 with one strikeout. In the first inning, he hit Plutko’s first pitch and fouled out to third base, and in the third inning, he struck out on three pitches. In the fifth, with runners on second and third, Plutko threw only a wild pitch and walked on an automatic double play. In the seventh, he hit a big shot to right-center field, but it was caught just in front of the fence.
He didn’t record a single hit on offense, but he came through with the game-winning run in the ninth inning.
Choi’s stunning pitch allowed closer Seo Jin-yong to breathe a sigh of relief. Seo preserved the 2-1 one-run victory and recorded his 32nd save of the season without a blown save. He maintained his 100% save percentage.