Doosan Bears beat SSG Landers in the bottom of the ninth inning with a thrilling two-out RBI single by pinch-hitter Heo Kyung-min to move within striking distance of fifth place.
Doosan Bears came from behind to win 3-2 at home against SSG Landers in the Korea Baseball Organization 2023 Shinhan Bank SOL KBO League at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul on Thursday.
Sixth-ranked Doosan has won four straight games to move within one game of fourth-place KIA Tigers and fifth-place SSG.
SSG dropped to fifth place, losing on goal difference to KIA, who did not play on the day.
Down 0-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Doosan started the comeback when leadoff hitter Yang Seok-hwan lined a single to left off reliever Seo Jin-yong.
Seo’s pitch started to wobble and he gave up a hard-hit ball to the next batter, Yang Ji.
With runners on first and second, Doosan had a chance to tie the game when pinch-hitter Lee Yoo-chan laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Seo threw out Yang Seok-hwan at third for the second out.
However, a wild pitch by Seo put runners on second and third, and Kang Seung-ho’s grounder to shortstop allowed Kim Tae-geun to score from third to make it 1-2.
Doosan then loaded the bases with two outs when pinch-hitter Kim In-tae walked and Park Kye-beom was hit by an intentional pitch.
Doosan tied the game at 2-2 when Heo Kyung-min came to bat and Seo Jin-yong’s wild pitch allowed Lee Yoo-chan to score from third base.
Heo then took advantage of a one-pitch, one-strike count and hit a three-pitch forkball to left-center field to end the game.
In truth, the game was not easy. Doosan was hounded by opposing starter Roenis Elias throughout the game.
Choi Seung-yong gave Doosan an early lead in the top of the first inning with a double to left-center field.
The Doosan bats were unable to capitalize on Elias.
In the top of the seventh inning, Doosan’s third pitcher, Hong Gun-hee, gave up a solo home run to SSG pinch-hitter Choi Ju-hwan.
Doosan, who had been silent, turned the game on its head in the bottom of the ninth inning when Elias went down, sending Jamsil Stadium into a frenzy.
Elias was not smiling as he pitched eight innings of five-hit ball with one walk and four strikeouts. 안전놀이터