"Suddenly, I couldn't breathe..." walk→walk→strikeout→grilled sushi, the reason why 'ERA under 0' Kim Min collapsed... now waiting in the bullpen [Daejeon on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

Because he had shown such a perfect performance, it was even harder to respond quickly. Kim Min (27, SSG Landers) delivered the worst pitching of the season.

On the 28th, in a visiting game against the Hanwha Eagles at Daejeon Hanwha Life Volleyball Park, Kim Min entered in relief in the bottom of the 8th inning with his team leading 5-2. He failed to record an out, allowing three walks and two runs (one earned run) before being replaced.

Traded with Oh Won-seok of KT ahead of last season, Kim Min took a step forward this season. Until the game on the 28th, he was a pitcher who had been unassailable with an ERA of 0.68 in 11 games.

Last year, SSG boasted an overwhelming bullpen strength, and until this game, they had a record of 10 wins and 1 loss in games where they led through the 7th inning, making it rare for them to lose their lead. Everyone expected SSG to win.

However, an entirely unexpected result occurred. Kim Min was shaken more than ever. After allowing a walk to the first batter, Moon Hyun-bin, Kim Min induced a ground ball to the shortstop from Noh Si-hwan, but Park Sung-han failed to field it, leading to a bases-empty, 1st-and-2nd base situation.

Even after the catcher came to the mound, Kim Min threw two consecutive balls, and even after the coaching staff visited the mound, he ultimately failed to throw a strike and issued another walk. With the bases loaded and no outs, he hit Chae Eun-seong with a pitch on the first ball, allowing a run, and was then replaced by Moon Seung-won.

Although Moon Seung-won allowed only one run via a sacrifice fly and maintained the lead, Jo Byung-hyun, the closer, also gave up a run in the 9th inning, leading the game to extra innings. SSG scored one run in the top of the 10th but surrendered two runs defensively, suffering a painful defeat.

Looking back, there was regret. Manager Lee said, "I called the pitching coach to come up, and (Kim Min) suddenly said he was having trouble breathing. So I said, 'Then we should change him,' but he insisted he was fine." He added, "But when I saw him throw the next pitch, I thought, 'This won't do,' and quickly prepared (Moon) Seung-won. If he had expressed his condition earlier, I would have switched to Seung-won, but that didn't happen."

There was confidence that even if he allowed one or two walks, he could easily maintain the three-run lead. However, the game on the 28th felt like an accident.

Manager Lee Seung-yong said, "Min has been pitching so well until now," and added, "Both I and the pitching coach thought that, although he has been great, there would be a time when he struggles, and it seems that time was yesterday."

Nevertheless, Kim Min has pitched 13⅓ innings in 13 games this season, recording 3 wins, 1 save, 5 holds, an ERA of 1.35, and is still the most powerful pitcher in the bullpen. His batting average against is only 0.204.

After a five-game winning streak, they fell into a two-game losing streak, and the performances were not good, so a win was essential today. SSG will start Mitch White. Although he had a disappointing outing the previous day, it was just a temporary issue. Kim Min will also be waiting in the bullpen today.

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*This content was translated by AI.