The Doosan Bears, led by manager Lee Seung-yeop, snapped a three-game losing streak with a stunning come-from-behind victory at home. No. 4 hitter Kim Jae-hwan’s come-from-behind home run got the week off to a great start.
Doosan won the first game of the 2024 Shinhan SOL Bank KBO League against the Hanwha Eagles, 5-3, at Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul on Monday. The victory was a welcome reversal of fortune for the Eagles, who were swept by the Lotte Giants on June 6-7.
Doosan starter Kim Dong-ju was solid on the day, allowing three runs (none earned) on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. He gave up three runs in the top of the third inning due to a fielding error, but was able to keep the bases loaded until the top of the sixth inning.
The Doosan bats were also strong. Heo Kyung-min was 1-for-3 with a walk, Yang Ji-hyun was 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored and a walk, Kim Jae-hwan was 1-for-4 with a double, a home run, three RBIs and a run scored, Yang Seok-hwan was 1-for-2 with a walk, Park Jun-young was 1-for-3 with a double, a home run, a run scored and a walk, Kim Dae-rae was 1-for-4 with a double, and Kim Tae-geun was 1-for-2 with a walk.
Down 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Doosan rallied with Kim Tae-geun’s RBI single with runners on second and third. The bullpen held the Hanwha bats scoreless until Park Jun-young’s solo home run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning cut the deficit to 3-2.
With the momentum on their side, Doosan came out swinging in the bottom of the seventh inning. One out later, back-to-back walks by Heo Kyung-min and Yang Ji-ji put two runners on base in front of No. 4 hitter Kim Jae-hwan.
Heo pinch-hit for Kyung-min and used his long, quick feet to shake up the Hanwha battery and infield. When Kim Jae-hwan came to bat, he boldly stole third base. It gave Kim a little more comfort and gave him a chance to compete with Hanwha pitcher Kim Bum-soo.
Kim Jae-hwan reacted to Cho’s successful steal of third base with a vigorous swing of the bat. One pitch later, he took Kim’s second 148-kilometer fastball for a three-run home run. He scooped up a pitch in the middle of the strike zone and sent it over the left-center field fence for a 120-meter blast.
Doosan took a 5-3 lead on Kim Jae-hwan’s walk-off home run and effectively shut down Hanwha’s late-game rally. Choi Ji-gang pitched one inning of scoreless relief in the top of the eighth and Jung Chul-won pitched one inning of scoreless relief with one strikeout and one walk in the top of the ninth to close out the game.
After the game, Doosan manager Lee Seung-yeop expressed his satisfaction, saying, “It was a tough game because we didn’t capitalize on our early chances, but 토토사이트 Kim Jae-hwan hit a great final home run as a No. 4 hitter. He didn’t miss any pitches and showed everyone his signature swing.”
“I was also impressed with Cho Su-hyung’s bold play in stealing third base during Kim’s three-run homer,” he said. “We were able to come from behind thanks to the fans who filled the stands for the first game of the week. We are grateful to them.”
Doosan will send ace Raul Alcantara to the mound for the second game of the season against Hanwha at the same venue on Tuesday. Doosan will look to secure the three-game midweek series and extend its winning streak.
Hanwha will start “Prince of Daejeon” Moon Dong-ju against Alcantara. The team is on a four-game losing streak and will need Moon’s help more than ever.