'Park Ji-hoon's 8th-inning go-ahead hit nearly squandered by defensive error' Doosan narrowly avoids a sweep loss to LG after two years [Jamsil Field Review]

*This content was translated by AI.

Doosan Bears escaped a sweep threat against LG Twins with a late comeback.

Doosan defeated LG 3-2 in a game held at Seoul Jamsil Stadium on the 7th. Having managed only one run in each of the previous two games, Doosan remained scoreless until the middle of the game on this day as well, but ultimately avoided a three-game losing streak after a hard-fought battle. The last time Doosan lost all three games in a series against their 'Jamsil rival' LG was from May 31 to June 2, 2024.

The game, which had been a pitchers' duel, turned volatile in the final innings.

Struggling against LG's starting pitcher Tolhurst, Doosan found an opportunity in the top of the 8th when leading-off batter Kim Min-seok hit a line drive single to center field. Tolhurst then issued a straight walk to Jung Soobin, putting himself in a bases-loaded, no-out situation.

Doosan replaced catcher Kim Ki-yeon with pinch-hitter Jo Su-hyeong, who successfully executed a sacrifice bunt in front of the catcher. With one out and runners on second and third, the next batter was Park Ji-hoon. Late to enter the batter's box after receiving signs from the third-base coach, Park Ji-hoon started with one strike against him. On a 1-2 count, he connected on the fourth pitch, driving the ball through the gap between the advancing LG third baseman and second baseman for a left-field single.

With both runners scoring, Doosan took a 2-1 lead in an instant. After LG replaced Tolhurst with Ham Deok-ju, Doosan extended their lead to 3-1 with a two-run single to right field by Park Jun-soon, following a walk by Park Chan-ho and a strikeout by Cameron with two outs and runners on first and second.

In the bottom of the 8th, LG's Austin immediately hit a triple to right-center field off reliever Park Chi-guk, tightening the chase. Oh Ji-hwan grounded out to first base. However, Doosan first baseman Park Ji-hoon, who failed to touch first base, threw the ball toward third base to try to catch Austin, but Austin was called safe. The play was ruled a fielder's choice, leaving the bases loaded with no outs.

After Song Chan-ui struck out, Park Hae-min grounded out to first base, which Park Ji-hoon fielded but failed to hold onto, allowing the runner from third base, Austin, to score. The play was recorded as an infield hit, making the score 3-2. With a fly ball to left field by Koo Bon-hyeok resulting in two outs, Doosan brought in closer Lee Young-ha. Lee Young-ha walked pinch-hitter Cheon Seong-ho on a straight pitch but induced a groundout by Lee Jae-won to the shortstop, preventing further runs. Lee Young-ha held the line scoreless in the bottom of the 9th, earning his second save of the season.

Earlier, in the bottom of the 2nd with one out, LG's Park Hae-min and Koo Bon-hyeok reached base on consecutive walks, creating a bases-loaded opportunity. As Doosan second baseman Park Jun-soon shifted toward second base, Park Dong-won hit the ball into the empty space between first and second base for a right-field single. Park Hae-min scored, giving LG the lead.

Tolhurst pitched scoreless through seven innings but faltered in the 8th, allowing five hits and three earned runs over 7⅓ innings, suffering his second loss of the season after a four-game winning streak. Doosan starter Choi Min-seok threw 104 pitches over five innings, allowing five hits, striking out eight, and giving up one run. He did not allow any runs in repeated high-leverage situations: one out with runners on second and third in the 1st, two outs with runners on first and second in the 3rd, no outs with a runner on second in the 4th, and no outs with a runner on second in the 5th.

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*This content was translated by AI.