In the bottom of the eighth inning, Doosan’s supporters chanted “Home run! Home run!” as Jung Soo-bin stepped to the plate.
Doosan snapped a two-game losing streak and ended KT’s seven-game winning streak with a 7-4 victory over KT in the 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Friday. They moved back into third place.
The victory was not only due to the strong pitching of Brandon, but also to the hot bat of Jung Soo-bin. Starting at first base and in center field, Jeong went 3-for-5 with a home run, one RBI, and one run scored.
After hitting a double in his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning, Jung hit a triple to right in the second inning, took a breather with a grounder in the fourth inning, and advanced to first base with a single to left in the sixth inning.
With a home run, he could become the first KBO player to complete a cycling hit in two years. In the bottom of the eighth inning, with Doosan leading 7-4, Jeong came to bat with two outs and two runners on base.
Fans chanted “Home run, home run, home run!” when they realized he was only one home run away from a cycling hit. It was an unusual chant for Soo-bin, who usually hits one or two home runs a year.
With a full count against KT’s Ha Jun-ho, Jeong made a big swing at a seven-pitch slider, but struck out. As he headed to the Doosan dugout, he had a rueful smile on his face.먹튀검증
Doosan’s Jung Soo-bin performs a heart gesture after his hit (from left to right: single, double, triple).
Jung Soo-bin, conscious of his cycling hit, is disappointed after striking out in the last at-bat of the eighth inning.
Doosan’s Jung Soo-bin hits a double in the first inning.
Doosan’s Jeong Soo-bin high-fives his teammates after the win.
After the game, Jung said, “I was looking for a big hit in my last at-bat. You don’t get that chance often in baseball. I still hit one or two home runs a year, and I was hoping that one would come today, but home runs are hard to come by.”
Meanwhile, Doosan, which climbed to third place after escaping two straight losses, announced that it will start Kwak Bin against KT at Jamsil Baseball Stadium on Saturday, while KT will send out Ko Young-pyo.