Why Samsung? Why did they suddenly bring in Kim Jae-yun when Park Jun-soon had a 1-ball count? → A gamble that turned into disaster [Yesterday's Baseball: This Moment]

*This content was translated by AI.

April 30 Doosan 8-5 Samsung (Jamsil)

In the bottom of the 8th inning, tied 5-5, the Doosan Bears were at bat. With two outs and the bases loaded, Park Jun-soon (20) stepped into the batter's box.

Samsung had Kim Tae-hoon (34) on the mound. Since entering in the 8th, he had allowed an infield hit to leadoff batter Park Ji-hoon, then issued a straight walk to Jung Soobin. Cameron also received three consecutive balls on a 1-1 count to reach base, showing an unstable performance.

The first pitch to Park Jun-soon was a slider that dropped on a single bounce, a ball. Park Jun-soon adjusted his stance and waited for the second pitch.

Suddenly, Samsung pitching coach Choi Il-eon walked out from the dugout. He received a new ball from the umpire and tapped Kim Tae-hoon on the lower back. This was an unusual pitching change with a 1-0 count.

Park Jun-soon had the highest batting average (0.365) among Doosan batters this season and had already hit two doubles earlier in the game. He was also strong in clutch situations, with five home runs leading the league up to the previous day. The Samsung bench apparently judged that Kim Tae-hoon's condition was insufficient to withstand this crisis.

The incoming pitcher was Kim Jae-yun (36), the team's closer who had recorded four saves (1 win, 1 loss) this season. However, in the game against SSG Landers on the 22nd, he pitched 1/3 inning, allowing one hit, two walks, and two earned runs, taking the loss. He had also allowed hits in three consecutive recent games, exposing instability.

In the Doosan game two days prior on the 28th, he entered in the bottom of the 9th with a 3-1 lead, one out, and bases loaded, allowing Cameron a two-RBI single to the left field to tie the game. However, he immediately struck out Park Jun-soon on three pitches. These factors led to the interpretation that Kim Jae-yun was suddenly brought to the mound during the at-bat.

Samsung's gamble ultimately backfired as an irreversible disaster. Kim Jae-yun threw a 144 km/h fastball slightly low and inside to Park Jun-soon on the first pitch, inducing a swing and miss. He then threw another similar 144 km/h fastball on the next pitch.

Park Jun-soon did not miss the second time. The ball struck the bat squarely and flew deep to left-center field. Samsung center fielder Park Seung-gyu ran over and extended his glove but could not reach it. While the ball rolled to the wall, all three runners crossed home plate. It was a game-winning, three-RBI double that swept the bases.

Kim Jae-yun issued a straight walk to the next batter, Yang Eui-ji, and struck out Kim Min-seok to prevent further runs, but the momentum and outcome of the game had already shifted.

Samsung, which had tied the game 5-5 after trailing 1-5, fell back into a two-game losing streak due to Park Jun-soon's decisive hit. Although they maintained fourth place, they were now 0.5 games behind co-fifth-place NC Dinos and KIA Tigers. With a season record of 13 wins, 1 tie, and 13 losses, maintaining a .500 winning percentage has become precarious.

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*This content was translated by AI.