'5 Games, 8 Runs' Doosan Manager Kim Won-hung Deep in Thought: "The Batting Order Isn't Flowing"... Yang Eui-ji Excluded from Starting Lineup for Second Consecutive Day [Jamsil On-site]

*This content was translated by AI.

"The batting order isn't flowing."

Kim Won-hung (54), manager of the Doosan Bears, expressed his frustration over the team's recent offensive slump.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the game against KT Wiz held at Seoul Jamsil Stadium on the 27th, Manager Kim said, "I'm worried a lot. How much harder must the batting coach be working?" He added, "I can't seem to figure out the batting order. I'm constantly worrying and worrying."

In the recent five games, Doosan scored a mere 8 runs, averaging 1.6 runs per game. While they recorded 44 hits (8.8 per game) and a batting average of 0.265 (5th place), which is not particularly bad, the issue lies in their ability to score. They left a total of 38 runners on base, averaging 7.6 per game. Their batting average with runners in scoring position was 0.171 (6 hits in 35 at-bats), the lowest among all 10 teams during this period. Moreover, all six hits were singles with no extra-base hits. Since two home runs were hit against Lotte on the 17th (by Kang Seung-ho and Kim Min-seok), they have gone six games without a home run.

After a nail-biting 1-0 victory against NC Dinos on the 21st, they managed only 3, 2, and 2 runs respectively in the three-game series against Hanwha Eagles in Daejeon from the 22nd to the 24th, suffering a sweep. Finally, on the 26th, they were defeated helplessly without scoring a single run against KT.

On this day, Doosan was shut out by opposing starter Boishley's pitching, failing to get a single baserunner until the top of the fifth inning with one out, and were held to a perfect game. It was not until the 14th batter, Kim Min-seok, that a ground ball single to left field finally allowed a player to reach first base. Later, Yoon Jun-ho hit a double in the sixth, Son A-seop in the seventh, Jung Soobin in the eighth, and Park Ji-hoon and Kim In-tae in the ninth hit sacrifice flies, but all failed to drive in runs, resulting in a loss.

Trapped in a four-game losing streak, their winning percentage, which had barely reached .500, has dropped again to -4 (22 wins, 1 tie, 26 losses).

The scoring drought is also attributed to the absence of key players. Park Jun-soon (20) and Ahn Jae-seok (24) were excluded from the first team due to injury, and Yang Seok-hwan (35) was excluded due to poor performance. Yang Eui-ji (39), who missed the previous day's game due to a sore left ankle, was also left out of the starting lineup for the day.

Regarding Yang Eui-ji, Manager Kim Won-hung explained, "There is no major issue, but we plan to adjust him a bit more today and tomorrow. He might come in as a pinch hitter in the later innings." He also said, "Cameron (29) will serve as the designated hitter for about a day instead of playing right field, as the coaches noted his bat speed has slowed down and he needs time to recover his stamina."

Accordingly, Doosan's starting lineup for the day was set as Jung Soobin (center field)-Park Chan-ho (shortstop)-Park Ji-hoon (third base)-Cameron (designated hitter)-Kim Min-seok (left field)-Kang Seung-ho (first base)-Jo Su-haeng (right field)-Yoon Jun-ho (catcher)-Lee Yu-chan (second base).

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*This content was translated by AI.