'Walk-off loss' LG's Yeom Kyung-yeop: "I miss Yeong-chan so much," Why wasn't Son Ju-young used? → "Strict principles" come first [Incheon field]

*This content was translated by AI.

"They couldn't get three outs."

Yeom Kyung-yeop (58), manager of the LG Twins, grimaced bitterly. It was because they failed to hold a one-run lead and suffered a walk-off defeat. This moment highlights the struggles at the back door of the LG team.

On the 16th, at Incheon SSG Landers Field, LG led 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th inning but tied the game and ultimately allowed a go-ahead run, losing 3-4 in a walk-off defeat.

Before the bottom of the 9th, the manager switched the pitcher from Kim Jin-seong to Bae Jae-jun. Starting pitcher Lee Jeong-yong had exited after just 3⅔ innings, and the lead was held until the 8th inning by Kim Yoon-sik (3 innings), Woo Kang-hoon (⅓ inning), and Kim Jin-seong (1 inning). LG's choice for the 9th was Bae Jae-jun.

Son Ju-young, who has recently been converted to a closer, was on standby, but Manager Yeom made a different choice. Speaking to reporters ahead of the game on the 17th, Manager Yeom said, "(Son Ju-young) is not pitching in consecutive games due to injury management. Since this is his first time in the middle relief (bullpen), he will pitch one day and rest the next until he adapts. He will do that through the middle of next week, and we plan to use him about once on the weekend."

Ultimately, it left a sense of regret. Even for Manager Yeom, there was regret. With reliable closer Yoo Young-chan sidelined due to injury, Son Ju-young, who took over as closer, has landed safely but still finds it difficult to completely fill Yoo Young-chan's void.

Manager Yeom said, "I usually erase injured players from my mind," but also expressed regret, saying, "But these days, I miss Yeong-chan so much."

However, someone must fill the void, and there is a player who clearly needs to grow. Manager Yeom stated, "(Bae) Jae-jun needs to take a step up in level to be more helpful to our operations. We keep using Jae-jun in tough situations. If he can overcome them, it will be good for both Jae-jun and the team. He has both variety and quality in his pitches, so we are trying to create a situation where he can step up, but I think baseball is truly difficult."

He continued, "We also agonized over (Kim) Young-woo. (Kim) Jin-seu had thrown a lot of pitches before that. After much thought, we decided it would be better for Jae-jun to grow, so we keep giving him opportunities. He needs to firmly secure that spot to grow a level himself and give the team some breathing room, but it's regrettable. As a manager, I give him the chance to take it, but that's how difficult baseball is."

Nevertheless, the principle of continuing to give opportunities remains unbroken. "If we stop using a player just because he fails, the player will never grow. We can't develop them," he said. "Anyway, we must keep them in tight situations. If things go poorly, we pull them out briefly, then work on them from the bottom, build them up again, and put them back in to finish the season. For now, we won't put them in tight situations. They need time to find their confidence. Once they find that confidence again, we will put them back in," he explained.

There is a clear player who needs to be developed. Manager Yeom emphasized, "It's decided now. The players who need to level up are (Woo) Kang-hoon, (Kim) Young-woo, (Bae) Jae-jun, and then (Kim) Jin-seu is below them. First, they need to work as long relievers. We have no long relievers at all. We need a long reliever when we are trailing by one run. These players need to step up to some extent for the team to move forward stably."

Bullpen management became even more difficult today. Starting pitcher Im Chan-kyu, who was strong against SSG, must be able to pitch as many innings as possible. Manager Yeom said, "Today, we have to go with Young-woo, Jin-seu, and Ju-young."

This is a game where the lineup needs to exert more power. LG lined up Hong Chang-ki (designated hitter), Gu Bon-hyeok (shortstop), Austin Dean (first baseman), Park Dong-won (catcher), Moon Jeong-bin (third baseman), Song Chan-ui (left fielder), Lee Jae-won (right fielder), Kim Hyun-jong (center fielder), and Shin Min-jae (second baseman).

Kim Hyun-jong will start for the first time since being called up. Manager Yeom said, "It's an experience better than expected. There are players we expect to perform and players we give experiences to. It would be great if he performs. I also think this will pass. Holding on with a 0.5-game difference is doing well. I am grateful. I think it's most important that the gap doesn't widen until mid-June."

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*This content was translated by AI.